Success on cue for Aussie snooker star chalks up top rank Aaron Langmaid talks to Australian and World Champion snooker player Neil Roberts and manages to improve his game, slightly. World Champion snooker star and Melbourne boy Neil Robertson. Picture: Mark Stewart Source: Herald Sun SNOOKER star Neil Robertson has the kind of swagger you'd expect from a world champion. He has the looks. He has the pool hall moves. He has the pulling power. Today, he even had a humble demeanour as he quietly thrashed this reporter at the game that made Robertson a household name. Fortunately, there were few spectators to witness the 109-8 demolition. It was, said Robertson, a mere warm-up for Australia's international snooker event next week. "I could have given you 100 points to start and I still would have won," he joked. The 31-year-old had just returned from competition in China, where he reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking and was swamped by fans on a flight home. Even the captain wanted his photo. Robertson is easily recognised as the trail-blazing Aussie who rose to become the best player on the planet. The kid from Ringwood who forged his career in a suburban pool hall won the World Snooker Championships in 2010. It earned him rock star status, huge pay cheques and the privilege of competing around the world. Based in Cambridge, England, the father of one has continued to dominate the sport but admitted that his success had taken a while to sink in. "I began to realise it the most when I started playing against the players I used to idolise," Robertson said. Somebody like John Higgins - I watched him win the world titles but then I found myself competing against him and even beating him. That's when the whole experience became more real for me. Robertson said he hoped his success was helping create pathways for other young Aussie players to follow. "When I won the world championship it was a big boost to the sport in Australia and hopefully inspired some of the younger players," he said. The Australian Snooker Goldfields Open will be staged in Bendigo from Monday until July 14. Go to bendigostadium.com.au