Neil Robertson claimed a clean sweep in the World Grand Prix final as he beat Stuart Bingham 10-0 to win the event for a second time.
The Australian won all eight frames in the opening session and wrapped up victory against fellow former world champion Bingham when play resumed in Hong Kong.
That gave the 43-year-old his 25th career ranking title and moved him back above Mark Selby to seventh on the all-time winners list.
The £180, 000 top prize for the World Grand Prix, which was being held outside the UK for the first time, also lifts Robertson from 19th to 11th in the world rankings and effectively secures a seeding for the World Championship.
Last year Robertson failed to qualify for the World Championship for the first time since 2004 after dropping out of the world’s top 16.
When it was announced in October that Hong Kong would be hosting its first ranking event for 35 years, Robertson said the former British colony “should always have an event”.
He has gone on to win that event, claiming just his second title since 2022, with breaks of 87, 104, 71 and 59 giving him a 4-0 lead.
The left-hander claimed the fifth and sixth frames before a break of 78 made it 7-0.
Bingham, who was appearing in his first ranking final in six years, looked set to get off the mark following a break of 63 in frame eight, only for Robertson to clear up with a 66 to win on the black.
Neil Robertson claimed a clean sweep in the World Grand Prix final as he beat Stuart Bingham 10-0 to win the event for a second time.
The Australian won all eight frames in the opening session and wrapped up victory against fellow former world champion Bingham when play resumed in Hong Kong.
That gave the 43-year-old his 25th career ranking title and moved him back above Mark Selby to seventh on the all-time winners list.
The £180, 000 top prize for the World Grand Prix, which was being held outside the UK for the first time, also lifts Robertson from 19th to 11th in the world rankings and effectively secures a seeding for the World Championship.
Last year Robertson failed to qualify for the World Championship for the first time since 2004 after dropping out of the world’s top 16.
When it was announced in October that Hong Kong would be hosting its first ranking event for 35 years, Robertson said the former British colony “should always have an event”.
He has gone on to win that event, claiming just his second title since 2022, with breaks of 87, 104, 71 and 59 giving him a 4-0 lead.
The left-hander claimed the fifth and sixth frames before a break of 78 made it 7-0.
Bingham, who was appearing in his first ranking final in six years, looked set to get off the mark following a break of 63 in frame eight, only for Robertson to clear up with a 66 to win on the black.
Neil Robertson claimed a clean sweep in the World Grand Prix final as he beat Stuart Bingham 10-0 to win the event for a second time.
The Australian won all eight frames in the opening session and wrapped up victory against fellow former world champion Bingham when play resumed in Hong Kong.
That gave the 43-year-old his 25th career ranking title and moved him back above Mark Selby to seventh on the all-time winners list.
The £180, 000 top prize for the World Grand Prix, which was being held outside the UK for the first time, also lifts Robertson from 19th to 11th in the world rankings and effectively secures a seeding for the World Championship.
Last year Robertson failed to qualify for the World Championship for the first time since 2004 after dropping out of the world’s top 16.
When it was announced in October that Hong Kong would be hosting its first ranking event for 35 years, Robertson said the former British colony “should always have an event”.
He has gone on to win that event, claiming just his second title since 2022, with breaks of 87, 104, 71 and 59 giving him a 4-0 lead.
The left-hander claimed the fifth and sixth frames before a break of 78 made it 7-0.
Bingham, who was appearing in his first ranking final in six years, looked set to get off the mark following a break of 63 in frame eight, only for Robertson to clear up with a 66 to win on the black.
Neil Robertson claimed a clean sweep in the World Grand Prix final as he beat Stuart Bingham 10-0 to win the event for a second time.
The Australian won all eight frames in the opening session and wrapped up victory against fellow former world champion Bingham when play resumed in Hong Kong.
That gave the 43-year-old his 25th career ranking title and moved him back above Mark Selby to seventh on the all-time winners list.
The £180, 000 top prize for the World Grand Prix, which was being held outside the UK for the first time, also lifts Robertson from 19th to 11th in the world rankings and effectively secures a seeding for the World Championship.
Last year Robertson failed to qualify for the World Championship for the first time since 2004 after dropping out of the world’s top 16.
When it was announced in October that Hong Kong would be hosting its first ranking event for 35 years, Robertson said the former British colony “should always have an event”.
He has gone on to win that event, claiming just his second title since 2022, with breaks of 87, 104, 71 and 59 giving him a 4-0 lead.
The left-hander claimed the fifth and sixth frames before a break of 78 made it 7-0.
Bingham, who was appearing in his first ranking final in six years, looked set to get off the mark following a break of 63 in frame eight, only for Robertson to clear up with a 66 to win on the black.
The Only Way is Essex star Chloe Brockett has alleged that show producers encouraged her to throw a drink at co-star Roman Hackett before a heated altercation that led to her suspension from the ITV reality series. A spokesperson for the show has vehemently denied the accusations stating: “]cast] would never be instructed to do anything they disagreed with or indeed be asked to discuss any false narratives”.
Brockett, 24, was suspended from the show in the summer of 2023 after throwing three tumbler glasses at Hackett, 22, during filming in Essex. Now, she claims the incident was orchestrated by the show’s production team and criticised the series for what she described as “fake storylines”.
Chloe has claimed she was told by producers to carry out the fight (chloebrockett/instagram)
Roman was left stunned by the incident (Brett Cove/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)
Speaking to The Sun, Brockett said she felt like the production team and bosses didn’t care about her, and just wanted ratings for their “flagging show”. She said: “The producers repeatedly told me to chuck a drink at him. When it all went wrong, they turned on me as though they had not had any part of it”.
Chloe further alleged that producers “instigated” the scene and that she initially resisted, explaining that while plastic glasses were usually used on set, real tumblers were present during this particular incident.
She stated that she had tried to leave that day but had been talked around by producers, adding that the situation had left her in tears. She added: “The fake storylines we were forced to do were too much. It was clear I was in no fit state to be doing any work”.
Chloe has now left the show (ITV)
The altercation reportedly stemmed from an exchange in which Brockett claimed Hackett called her a “fat c***”, prompting her to throw the glasses. Hackett has denied directing the insult at Brockett, explaining that while he did use the words, he said them under his breath after the glasses had already been thrown.
Insiders from the show told The Sun that real glasses would not have been present on set had producers anticipated drink-throwing. Hackett also revealed that Brockett later apologised for the argument but did not specifically say sorry for throwing the glasses. He confirmed he has had no contact with Brockett since the incident and that their friendship has ended.
“I did her a favour by not saying anything, but I won’t stand for someone making false allegations”, Hackett said.
Roman says he’s had no contact since the incident (roman_hackett/instagram)
The altercation came after Roman allegedly called Chloe a ‘ fat c*** ‘ (Instagram)
A spokesperson for TOWIE responded, saying, “The welfare of TOWIE’s cast and crew is of primary importance. Any concern regarding behaviour is immediately investigated and dealt with in line with our robust protocols. Safety on set is central to our production and cast members would never be instructed to do anything they disagreed with or indeed be asked to discuss any false narratives”.
Following the altercation, reports indicated that other cast members were “appalled” by Brockett’s actions and called for her permanent removal from the show. She later decided to leave the series.
Brockett has since expressed relief at her departure, telling MailOnline that now she’s left she feels much happier. She said: “I got to the point that I had been on the show for five years and I didn’t feel like I could progress anymore”.
Track cycling great Dame Laura Kenny has been appointed Commonwealth Games England (CGE) president.
At 32, she is the youngest president in the organisation’s history and third consecutive woman to hold the role after Dame Kelly Holmes and Dame Denise Lewis.
Kenny is Britain’s most successful female Olympian, winning five golds and a silver, in addition to seven world titles and 14 European golds.
She competed at three Commonwealth Games, winning gold at Glasgow 2014, and gold and bronze at Birmingham 2022 – the last medals before she retired in March 2024.
CGE says Kenny will be a “key ambassador” in the build-up to the next Games in Glasgow in 2026, while its chair John Steele adds the former cyclist will “play a crucial role in helping us protect the future” of the Commonwealth movement.
Glasgow will host a scaled-down version of the multi-sport event, which was due to be held in Victoria, but the Australian state withdrew due to rising costs.
“I love the unique feel of the event and I’m thrilled to work with and support England’s athletes as their prepare for Glasgow and future Commonwealth Youth Games too”, said mother-of-two Kenny.
“I have devoted my life to cycling and while that sport will always be my passion, it is great to have the opportunity to pass on some of my experience to athletes from a wider range of sports”.
Steele added: “Her passion for the Games is clear and her insights will be invaluable. She is one of our nation’s greatest athletes and that experience at the very highest level of sport will inspire the next generation of Team England and assist the CGE in supporting them.
” She brings invaluable experience to our senior leadership team as we look to the future with renewed confidence. “
