Past mistakes ensure Robertson is focused

New Masters champion Neil Robertson insists the apathy that followed his last victory at a major tournament will not strike again.

The Cambridge-based Australian picked up the £150,000 winner’s cheque after sweeping to a 10-6 victory over Shaun Murphy at Alexandra Palace.

In 2010, he seized the World Championship title at the Crucible, only for his form to suffer in the ensuing months.

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The birth of son Alexander contributed to the slump, but so, too, did his own declining commitment levels.

The 29-year-old has matured, however, as he targets the final leg of the sport’s triple crown with victory in the UK Championship.

“I completely took my foot off the pedal after the worlds. I wasn’t running on a lot of sleep because of the baby,” said the world No 4.

“I would get to 8pm and 9pm at night and feel like I hadn’t done half of what I’d wanted to. But it was also a little bit of laziness on my part, not going to the club when I should have done. That’s all changed now and I’ve learnt from that.”

Robertson underlined his big-game temperament at Alexandra Palace, extending his remarkable 100 per cent winning record in finals of ranking events to seven.

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