‘Say the full story and not half’ – Snooker star swipes at rival after controversial World Championships exit
SNOOKER star Jimmy Robertson has blasted rival star Matt Selt after his exit from the World Championships.
Selt, 40, had fallen 8-3 and 9-6 behind before snatching a 10-9 victory on the black to secure qualification to the Crucible main event starting on Saturday.
Robertson could have won the tie if he had potted the pink but a miss proved costly as Selt cleared the final two balls
However, Selt issued an apology to Robertson after the 38-year-old claimed he was “distracting him”.
Speaking on the matter, Robertson declared he was “very disappointed” with his old friend and added he needed to tell the full story.
He told Metro: “Been mates with Matt for over 25 years. Very disappointed in him is all I want to say.
“I’ve heard everything [he said] through people calling me. All I will say is ask Matt again to say the full story and not half.”
Selt said he did what he did during the match all the time, but insisted it was not done while Robertson was playing at the table.
He said: “I do what I do all the time, commentate on my shots. If a ball is going towards the hole, which it did on numerous occasions in this match, I’d say ‘Oh there’s another one.’
“I never said anything after the balls came to rest, not deliberately trying to put him off.
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“I show my emotions. I’m not doing it to my opponent, especially someone who I’ve classed as a really good friend since the age of 13. I don’t know how he’s going to feel, but I feel pretty crap.
“I’ve not done anything when Jimmy’s at the table or anything like that. Maybe I can rein it in a little bit, but then again I didn’t really want to. That’s how I play and that’s how I am.
“It’s an unfortunate circumstance because Jimmy is one of my closest friends on the tour.”
Selt revealed Robertson had pulled him aside to tell him about his conduct.
Distraught Selt added: “My emotions are pretty numb, to be honest. Jimmy pulled me to one side after one of the frames and had a word.
“He said: ‘What are you doing? You’re basically putting me off.’ Which I obviously wasn’t trying to do, but obviously got to him.
“I feel genuinely gutted, to be honest. I’m happy to win but not to the point where my actions may have contributed towards his declining performance.
“That’s sport, I suppose. I wasn’t doing anything completely out of order. But my feeling is pretty flatline and I just want to send my apologies to Jimmy.”
Selt revealed the pair had not yet spoken following the game, admitting he would probably allow Robertson the chance to message him first but would understand if he didn’t want to.
Selt’s win saw him become the final player to qualify for the Crucible, where he is hoping to finally land a win on his fifth visit.
The World No34 added to the WST: “This win, there’s no good feeling whatsoever towards it.
“Great achievement to come back from 8-3 down but ultimately Jimmy is one of my closest friends so for him to feel so strongly to pull me to one side and say something, I feel absolutely dreadful.
“I’m gutted for him that he didn’t win and be happy tomorrow that I’ve won, but I just want to apologise.”