Robin Hull reflects on his career, snooker ambitions and return to health ahead of The 900 debut

18/09/2023 14:25

After four years away from the professional tour, Robin Hull is back on our screens this week at The 900, relishing the chance to compete late in his snooker career.

Finland’s finest player was a regular on the pro circuit from the early ’90s all the way until 2019, reaching multiple ranking quarter-finals, making three Crucible appearances and memorably winning the Shoot Out in 2016, beating current world champion Luca Brecel in the final.

He is having a first crack at The 900 this week, an amateur competition not dissimilar to the Shoot Out, and Hull is looking forward to the challenge.

‘It’s a great boost for amateur snooker. It’s welcome,’ Hull told . ‘[900 organiser] Jason Francis is the sort of guy who aims really big, which is exactly what you need. Hopefully he can build on it.

‘The format is pretty killer, but it’ll make it exciting and hopefully a lot of people will follow it.

‘I’ve obviously played in the Shoot Out with some success. If I could change that win into a longer format tournament then yeah, sure. I suppose I’ve got a classical mindset, I enjoy the longer formats. But these are fun and exciting, I think they’re great.’

Hull won that Shoot Out when it was a non-ranking event and while it is a one-frame affair, the names he knocked off on his way to the title were impressive, including Mark Williams, Judd Trump, Ryan Day and Brecel.