'It just feels like my game is never coming out when it actually matters' - Jimmy Robertson on Northern Ireland Open exit

The Bexhill-on-Sea potter slumped to a 4-2 defeat against two-time World Championship finalist Matthew Stevens in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open in Milton Keynes.

And that marked the world No.47’s second consecutive defeat after he surrendered a 3-0 lead against Yuan Sijun to lose 5-3 in German Masters qualifying.

Robertson slammed his inability to convert form on the practice table into matches but says he’d hang up his snooker suit if he didn’t believe an upturn in form was around the corner.

“It’s frustrating – I’m playing as well as I’ve ever played in practice and then I come away to the tournament and it’s the same thing happening all the time,” the 34-year-old moaned.

“It just feels like my game is never coming out when it actually matters – and all that matters is when you’re away at a tournament.

“Practice wise I feel really good, so comfortable and then I come away to tournaments and it just feels like you’ve never played the game before. It’s mad, and I can’t put my finger on it other than negative thoughts come in your head.

“I play as if it means so much and matters so much and it feels like life or death, but there’s more to life than a snooker match. But I can’t help but feel like that when I’m out there playing.

“Then you start missing and losing, and negative thoughts come in your brain all the time.

“I think it’s probably all in the head in the minute – I know it’s there and that’s not how I play and I’m just waiting. It might never come out but I’m just hoping one day things change and I start playing how I can play and give myself a chance of doing something in the game.

“I’d give up now if I didn’t believe in what I could do. Two years ago I won a tournament. I know what I’m capable of doing but it’s just frustrating it never seems to consistently come out. I know that I’m better than what I’m doing.”

Robertson, who memorably soared to European Masters glory in 2018, made a second frame break of 67 but was floored by visits of 73, 61 and 59 from world No.31 Stevens.

The south coast player did reach the last 32 of the English Open last month but has struggled for consistency on the hectic snooker circuit, with all events currently being held at Milton Keynes’ Marshall Arena owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

That includes next week’s UK Championship – one of snooker’s Triple Crown events – and Robertson hopes a few days away from the table can propel him to victory against world No.84 Igor Figueiredo.

“I’ll have a couple of days off now, go home, see the kids and chill out and then knuckle down for the UK,” he added.

“I’ll keep plugging away and try and have a run in that. I believe in myself, it’s just when I’m out there it’s not happening. I’ve got to try and figure out why it happens.”

Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport, Eurosport app, and stream on discovery+