Family out of the frame for Robertson final

Neil Robertson disputes the World Championship final with his girlfriend in labour and his family stuck Down Under as he bids to become the first Australian to win the title since 1952.

The 28-year-old’s Norwegian girlfriend Mille is due to give birth Sunday while there is no hope of his parents reaching Sheffield in northern England before the final concludes Monday.

The left-hander beat England’s Ali Carter 17-12 Saturday in the semi-finals at The Crucible theatre to become the first Australian to reach the final since Eddie Charlton in 1975.

His mother was due to come to the Steel City but initially did not travel due to the volcanic ash cloud which disrupted flights over Europe.

“I do have some family here but in terms of my mum and dad I don’t know,” Robertson said.

“I’m thinking about jumping on the Internet and having a look at flights but... unfortunately it’s 24 hours on a plane.

“My mum was going to come over this year and got really close to doing it, but with what happened with the volcano and everything, and when I was 11-5 down to Martin Gould (in round two), I thought it was lucky she didn’t come. “But I won that and now I’m in the final so I’m regretting that she didn’t come a little bit.”

The left-hander from Melbourne said his parents went to great lengths to fund his career, despite being short of money themselves.

He almost gave up the sport, he added. SHEFFIELD,

England, Sunday AFP