Snooker star's 'horrendous' experience before World Championship rings alarm bells

 Neil Robertson was forced to qualify for the World Snooker Championship last year for the first time in 20 years, and he has opened up on his experience of Judgement Day

Neil Robertson had a torrid time on Judgement Day in 2024

Neil Robertson has revealed the "horrendous" experience he had while trying to qualify for the World Snooker Championship with Stephen Hendry.

The Australian snooker star gave an inside look at the final qualifying round before the major tournament, which is better known as Judgement Day. During the preliminary event, 32 hopefuls battle it out for a coveted spot in the main draw and the chance to face one of the top 16 seeds.

Those lucky enough to make it to this stage must first pass through three preliminary rounds before reaching the final stage, which takes place just days before the main snooker tournament kicks off.

Robertson found himself outside the world's top 16 in 2024 after a semi-final defeat at the World Open, forcing him to navigate the World Championship qualifiers for the first time since 2006. On Judgement Day, he suffered a narrow 10-9 loss to Jamie Jones, missing out on the major tournament draw for the first time in two decades.

During an appearance on Hendry's Cue Tips YouTube channel, Robertson was asked by the Scot about the growing popularity of the final qualifying day. The 43-year-old recounted his "horrific" ordeal as he said: "It was horrendous to be a part of last year, as much as I was trying to talk it down and just be like, 'Oh yeah it's [fine].'

Neil Robertson explained the stress of Judgement Day to Stephen Hendry

"It's just absolutely horrific because the players there, you can just sense their desperation, of everyone around you, and when I was there last year, all the players were just looking at me like, 'Oh my god, what are you even doing here.'"

Hendry revealed his own stint at Judgement Day in 2012, just prior to his retirement, reflecting that the intensity of the qualifying event wasn't as hyped up then.

The snooker legend managed to clinch a win over Yu Delu with 10-6 in the final round that year, only to step away from the sport following a subsequent loss to Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals.

Despite the intense atmosphere, Robertson praised the way Judgement Day is organised in the modern era, admitting it adds a touch of professionalism similar to a major event.

The Australian has found it tough at the World Snooker Championship in recent years(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

He added: "In fairness, they've actually done a great job, they've set it up like basically almost like a venue. I don't know if you've seen it?

"It's set up open, like a main venue now so tables one and two at the qualifiers for the World Championships, you actually feel as though you are playing at a venue - obviously just without the live TV cameras."

At the 2025 World Championships, Robertson had made his way back into the top 16, granting him a simpler way past Judgement Day. Yet, despite this, the former world No. 1 exited the tournament early, losing to Chris Wakelin 10-8 during the first round.

Zhao Xintong triumphed over Mark Williams in the final to become the first World Champion from China, whilst Robertson didn't make it past the second round of the major tournament for the fourth consecutive year.