Snooker professional Neil Robertson has described an emotional rollercoaster of a year, marked by a prestigious national honour and the heartfelt retirement of his closest friend in the sport.
A Year of Highs and Lows
The 2010 world champion, Neil Robertson, has experienced a momentous 2025. The year began on a spectacular high when he was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) for his distinguished service to snooker. This honour allows him to use the post-nominal letters OAM, which he has proudly added to his social media profiles.
An elated Robertson took to social media to express his pride, stating it was the proudest moment of his career and something he could never have imagined as a child growing up in Australia. The OAM is the highest civilian honour granted by the Australian government.
Heartbreak on the Eve of the Crucible
The snooker calendar took a deeply personal turn for Robertson just before the World Championship. His best friend and practice partner of over two decades, Joe Perry, announced his retirement from the professional tour.
Robertson revealed the news left him 'heartbroken'. The pair's friendship began in 2003 when Robertson moved from Australia to the UK, settling in Cambridge. Perry soon joined the same local club, and they quickly became inseparable, with Robertson crediting Perry as a key influence on his game from the very start.
A New Chapter and Riyadh Campaign
While Perry's retirement from the tour marked the end of an era, it has opened a new chapter for their partnership. Perry now plays a more significant role as part of Robertson's support team, a move the Australian says has been a 'huge reason' for his recent turnaround in form.
Robertson's successful year also includes a major financial victory, having banked £500,000 for winning the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, where he defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.
He is now back in the Gulf region, preparing to compete in the Riyadh Season Championship. His campaign begins in the quarter-finals on Thursday, where he will face England's Kyren Wilson. The winner of that match will progress to face either Mark Allen or John Higgins in the semi-finals.
