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Neil Robertson's offer to financially support players struggling during the coronavirus outbreak has led to the World Snooker Tour making cash available.
An offer by Aussie snooker star Neil Robertson to financially support players during the coronavirus outbreak has led to the sport's governing body moving to make cash available.
Earlier this month the world No.2 invited players who were struggling to pay their bills or mortgages to get in touch with him.
Since the big-hearted gesture from the Melburnian left-hander, World Snooker Tour stepped in to offer assistance for those who need it.
"After I'd mentioned the idea, World Snooker immediately sent out an email saying if anyone was struggling to contact the World Snooker Players Association who had funds," Robertson told AAP.
"Each player pays two-and-half per cent of their prize money back into the game and it is for situations like this.
"It was great of of them to follow my lead and offer support to players but I was more than willing to step in and help.
"To go three or four months without any earnings simply because of a lack of opportunity is a very long time."
Robertson would usually be playing at the World Championships in Sheffield at this time of year, but snooker's flagship event was last week moved to a July 31 start, with the likelihood of no fans being present.
The 38-year-old will be one of the favourites for the title given his scintillating run of form in a season which has seen him win three tournaments and reach the final of another.
However, like everyone else in the UK he's been living in lockdown, helping his fiancee Mille to homeschool the couple's nine-year-old son Alexander and look after their one-year-old daughter Penelope.
He's been keeping his eye in with solo practice sessions twice a week at a specially allocated room at the offices of his management near his home in Cambridge.
Despite the frustration of not being able to play tournament events, Robertson said the revised dates are welcome news but concedes it's going to be tough to organise.
"There's not a lot you can do, I practice a couple of times a week just to keep the arm going and make sure I don't lose anything," he said.
"But at least we have a target and it gives the country time to settle down and hopefully get the coronavirus numbers down.
"The hardest thing is going to be organising qualifying as you have the top-16 in the world waiting for the the other 16 to qualify from 120-odd players.
"Playing at a venue while observing the guidelines set out by the government is the biggest challenge."
Despite career earnings of over $9.5 million, Robertson doesn't have his own table, admitting he's too easily distracted.
"When I was 16 I had a table at home in Melbourne and I hardly ever practised," he said.
"I remember we got Foxtel in and went from having four channels and my dad standing on a chair to get a reception to watch the cricket, to having all these movie channels.
"So instead of practising I would be sitting there several hours later watching the TV. So I made a conscious decision to never have one when I got a home here."
