Neal Foulds comments on Neil Robertson’s bad form

Snooker pundit Neal Foulds has said the bad form of Neil Robertson is one of the most dramatic “falls from grace” he’s seen.

The 23-times ranking event winner faces Barry Hawkins in the opening round of the Masters. However, Foulds says Robertson is the underdog due to his bad form.

Australian Robertson, a former world champion, has not lifted major silverware since April 2022. An incredible drought given his successful career in the game.

So far this season (2023/24) Robertson has played seven ranking events but failed to reach the Last 16 stage in any of them. His lack of form has seen him slide down the provisional world rankings list from 7th to 14th – meaning that he currently has a battle on his hands to ensure an automatic place in the World Championship taking place in April.

And Robertson is placed a staggeringly low 88th position in the current one-year rankings, having just won £15,000 in prize money this season from ranking events.   

In his latest column for the Sporting Life website, Foulds who will be commentating throughout this week’s Masters at London’s Alexandra Palace for Eurosport, said he could not believe the scale of Robertson’s decline in form.

Neil Robertson winning the Masters in 2022. Video: World Snooker Tour

Dramatic fall from grace

Foulds said: “Another match I’m really looking forward to is the one between Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins. Two years ago, these two contested the final here, with Robertson running out a convincing winner in the end.

“Much has changed since. Hawkins has already won this season, but Robertson’s form has fallen off a cliff. It’s hard to think of a more dramatic fall from grace.

“Robertson is a fantastic player, up there with the very best. But you only have to look at the betting to see how things have changed.

You can see Fould’s column in full by clicking here – https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/neal-foulds-snooker-column-all-eyes-on-the-masters-as-judd-trump-and-ronnie-osullivan-take-centre-stage/214923

The Masters starts on Sunday, January 7 with reigning world champion Luca Brecel taking on Jack Lisowski. Matches will be shown live on the BBC and Eurosport.