• Snooker Looking Up Down Under

    As Neil Robertson claimed the biggest prize in snooker, 12,000 miles across the other side of the world, one of his closest friends was cheering him on and gaining inspiration to follow in the footsteps of the first Australian to lift the world championship trophy in its 83 year history.

    Vinnie Calabrese is a 22-year-old currently ranked number four in Australia.

    “I have been watching a little on the net, but it was announced that the last two sessions would be live on Foxtel, which is the Aussie version of Sky.  So my brother and four other mates went to a friends place and watched it live.

    “It started here at midnight, so we all fell asleep during the interval on the couch.

    “Neil’s win is just great. It’s something all snooker players work towards to win a World Championship, and being with Neil a lot he always used to talk about it.  We all knew he would win the worlds, we just didn’t know when.

    “I am not sure what now will happen with snooker in Australia, hopefully our Australian Snooker body can take advantage of anything that comes our way.

    “But surely only positive things can only come of this.

    “Hopefully the ABSC (Australian Billiards and Snooker Council) can muster up opportunities for Australian snooker and its players, thanks to Neil and his achievement today.

    Calabrese has competed in the UK for the last four seasons, with moderate success.

    When in the UK, Vinnie lives with Neil in Cambridge.

    “I Love Cambridge, it is the best city.

    “I am not sure when I’m coming back to the UK.  This year back home I have won three out of four of our Australian national ranking tournaments but the one I didn't win was the main tour spot qualifier.

    “So I’m trying to save some money and come as soon as, and rejoin Neil”.

    Warren King, a Crucible regular in the 80’s was also watching Robertson re-writing the history books, said “The final was shown live over here and that has never happened before.

    King, who correctly predicted a Robertson victory on Global-Snooker.com before the start of the tournament said, “It will be interesting to see what happens out here now”.

    Shawn Budd will make a return to the professional tour in 2010/11 after winning the Oceania Snooker Championship in March.