Snooker star pulls out of BBC World Championship punditry team as dog falls ill

Star Neil Robertson has reluctantly withdrawn from his BBC World Snooker Championship pundit role as he needs to take care of his ailing dog. The 42-year-old was prepared for a central role in the BBC's coverage of the event after not qualifying for the first time since 2005.

Robertson faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Jamie Jones, 10-9 in his Crucible qualifier, hence he got beckoned to join the BBC snooker crew. The world champion of 2010 confessed that it would be a challenge to spectate from afar, yet he was anticipating this foundation into punditry. Snooker enthusiasts appreciated the news favourably, but now Robertson disclosed that his plans have been reshuffled and he can no longer be present in Sheffield for the tournament as he is attending to his family pet.

To disseminate the news, he turned to X, which was Twitter previously, stating: "Hey guys. Just letting you know sadly I won't be part of the punditry team next week as our dog has fallen very ill and needs some thorough assessment. It's touch and go so all (praying emoji) really needed. Hey guys. Just letting you know sadly I won't be part of the punditry team next week as our dog has fallen very ill and needs some thorough assessment. It's touch and go so all (praying emoji) really needed," reports the Express.

Support flooded in for the Aussie snooker ace after he shared the news, with legions of fans sending their best wishes to Robertson and his family, praying for his pooch Freddie's swift recovery. Robertson's season has been fraught with challenges, and his recent loss to Jones in the qualifiers highlighted his ongoing battles. Despite entering the match as the clear favourite and establishing an early lead, he managed to secure only one of the last five frames, resulting in a narrow 10-9 defeat.

Post-match, Robertson took to Twitter, expressing his disappointment: "Well, that hurts. Fair play to Jamie though from 8-5 up I barely had a chance he played brilliant. Tough season all round and some time off needed for sure. Thanks everyone for the continued support. I'll be back much stronger next season, I can guarantee that."

The snooker star's position in the world rankings has taken a hit throughout this season, and he will have to step up his game significantly to re-enter the top 16. Starting the season ranked sixth, Robertson's lacklustre performance, with only one semi-final appearance on tour, has seen his ranking take a dive.