The publication in the News of the World of alleged revelations of fraud against international Snooker player John Higgins that he had agreed to fix match games has rocked the sport at the time when the World Snooker finals are currently being played at the Crucible in Sheffield. Higgins has been suspended by the World body governing the sport whilst urgent internal investigations are acarried out.
The current finalists are battling out the final match game today, the mother of one of the finalists Neil Robertson Alison Hunter is flying in to Heathrow to support her son all the way from Australia to watch her son for the first time at the Crucible.
Neil’s climb to Snooker stardom is due to his desire to succeed over his parent’s dislike for him devoting so much time to Snooker and giving up his academic studies in favour of Snooker. Perhaps now they can appreciate the rewards if he wins.
Neil Robertson is the first Australian to reach the final since Eddie Charlton over 35 years ago and his countries first to perhaps win the world snooker final, and the second ever outside the UK and Ireland to achieve that feat since Canadian Cliff Thornburn in 1980.
To win the world snooker championship is one achievement but his girlfriend Millie is also expecting their first child at any moment so the pressure must surely be on Robertson.
Robertson mother disapproved of her son spending so much time in dark smoke filled snooker halls in Melbourne but now he has the chance to grasp £250,000 prize money she has surprisingly changed her views.
Heathrow is the UK’s hub for international travellers coming into the UK and the World Snooker Championship is just one attraction that lures travellers and sports fans to the UK. Booking hotels in and around Heathrow can prove to be a problem unless you plan it well in advance so it pays to book your Airport Hotel early to avoid dissappointment