Neil Robertson revealed that switching to a titanium ferrule on his cue has given him renewed enthusiasm for practice, and his sharpness showed in a 4-0 win over Yuan Sijun in the first round of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.
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Robertson is one of a growing number of players to switch to titanium, which allows the player to aim directly at the potting angle, rather than allowing for side spin on the cue ball, known as deflection, when playing with a traditional brass ferrule. The Australian has already had an excellent season, highlighted by victory at the BetVictor English Open in September, but believes he can improve further with the change to his cue.
He fired breaks of 97 and 67 today as he eased into the last 16, setting up a tie with David Gilbert on Thursday.
"I decided to make the switch after the Welsh Open, then I needed a couple of weeks to get used to it," said Robertson. "As soon as I wake up I'm thinking I can't wait to practise, and it's the first time I have felt that in over 20 years. The things I'm doing things in practice are exciting. I need to experience it more in an area with the different cloth, but once I fully adapt I'll be playing some fun snooker.
"Other top players like John Higgins, Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen have changed to titanium in recent seasons and I had always been curious. It's a massive change because there is so much less deflection, while with brass you get used to aiming to miss balls by one or two inches, to allow for the throw. Titanium is a much more consistent material then brass which means you have to adapt less in different conditions when we play in different counties. I think in the coming years we will see more innovation in snooker."
Robertson won the Hong Kong Masters in 2017 and enjoys the location. He added: "I always love coming here. In some places you go for a practice then go back to your hotel room. In Hong Kong you want to make the most of every day. That helps inspire me. People love snooker and support the event. If I can get to the quarter-finals onwards I think the atmosphere in the arena will be unbelievable."
BetVictor Welsh Open champion Mark Selby edged out Jackson Page 4-3 despite failing to make a break over 50. After sharing the first four frames, Page made an 85 to lead 3-2, and he was among the balls first in frame six but scored only 29. Selby battled back to take that frame on the colours, then won the decider with runs of 36 and 41.
"Jackson played well to go 3-2 up and I was just hanging on," admitted Selby, who now meets Mark Allen or Jimmy Robertson. "He had a good chance to win 4-2 but luckily he let me back into it. I'll need to improve in the next round."
China's Xiao Guodong, enjoying the best season of his career and currently fourth in the Johnstone's Paint One-Year Rankings, edged out Jak Jones 4-3. Breaks of 106 and 56 put Xiao 2-0 up before Jones hit back with 53, 69 and 58 to lead 3-2. Xiao rose to the challenge with runs of 110 (his 300th career century) and 89 to take the last two frames. The result means that last year's Crucible runner-up Jones misses out on the Sportsbet.io Players Championship and could be in danger of having to qualify for the World Championship.
Xiao now meets BetVictor Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan, who enjoyed a 4-2 success against Elliot Slessor with runs of 60, 107 and 71.