On January 21st, Beijing time, the first day of the 5th group of the 2025 Snooker Championship League concluded. World champions Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, and Stuart Bingham competed alongside other top players such as Jack Jones, Joe O'Connor, Matthew Selt, and Tom Ford. The competition in this group was fierce, resulting in a surprising outcome where 42-year-old Neil Robertson lost nine consecutive games, ending the first day with three straight defeats and currently ranking last.
Neil Robertson and Judd Trump are both post-80s superstars who once kept pace with each other. However, over the past few seasons, Neil Robertson's form has significantly declined while Judd Trump has remained strong, pulling ahead of Robertson. This season, although Neil Robertson's form seemed to be improving, his performance has been inconsistent, making it clear that he is struggling to catch up with Trump, as evidenced by his performance in the championship league.
On the first day of the fifth group, Judd Trump defeated Tom Ford 3-1, Stuart Bingham 3-1, and then swept Neil Robertson 3-0 in a key match. Finally, facing Jack Jones, the runner-up of the previous World Championship, Trump scored single-stroke points of 70, 112, and 103 to win 3-1. On the first day, Trump not only won all four matches but also made three century breaks, currently leading the group standings.
In contrast, Neil Robertson struggled in the group stage, narrowly defeating Matthew Selt 3-2 in his first match. He then lost 0-3 to Tom Ford, 0-3 to Trump, and 0-3 to Joe O'Connor. Apart from losing to Trump, the other two losses were considered major upsets. Neil Robertson lost nine consecutive games on the first day, with a total record of 1 win and 3 losses, currently ranking last and facing elimination. Judging from his current form, Neil Robertson really finds it difficult to catch up with Trump.
After the first day, Trump is far ahead, while Joe O'Connor is temporarily in second place with 2 wins and 2 losses, Jack Jones with 2 wins and 1 loss, and Matthew Selt, Tom Ford, and Stuart Bingham all have 1 win and 2 losses. Although Neil Robertson seems to be not far behind, losing nine consecutive games has put him in a very passive position. His last two matches are against Jack Jones and Stuart Bingham, and even if he wins both, it will be challenging for him to enter the top four of the group, meaning that the last two matches are essentially honor battles for him.
It's worth noting that Jack Jones previously suffered four consecutive runner-up finishes. In the fifth group, he still has a chance to reach the knockout stages, but considering Trump's fiery form, it will be tough for Jack Jones to break through from this group, and he might even face a fifth consecutive runner-up finish. Of course, the championship league format is full of variables, and it's hard for Trump to maintain his dominant form continuously; everything is still uncertain!