Why Neil Robertson is calling for ban on Ronnie O'Sullivan's chalk after John Higgins incident - 'Destroys the game and players hate it'
Published 28/04/2026 at 11:16 GMT+1
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Neil Robertson has said that the chalk used by Ronnie O'Sullivan should be banned from snooker, arguing that it is something not at all liked by the majority of the players.
'Oh my god' - Higgins suffers huge kick with winning line in sight
Video credit: TNT Sports
O’Sullivan, who was beaten in a final-frame thriller in the World Championship last 16 by fellow legend John Higgins, is one of the few players on tour who uses traditional Triangle chalk.
Most other players use Taom chalk, which doesn’t leave as many marks on the table and reduces kicks.
TNT Sports expert Alan McManus said that O'Sullivan's old-school chalk was impacting Higgins during the early stages of their match as it affects the way the table plays.
And former world champion Robertson made it abundantly clear that he is not a fan.
”Ban that c***, please,” he said, following his last-16 win over Chris Wakelin. ”All the players hate it.
”It destroys the game. You get kicks, you get bounces. Not only that, it makes an absolute mess of the table.
”I know he [O’Sullivan] is good friends with [artist] Damien Hirst, but it’s like he’s doing artwork with chalk all over the cloth.
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'He has the juice to win this thing' - McManus urges O'Sullivan to put in the work
Video credit: TNT Sports
”I don’t think he does it to put off anyone, he’s not that way inclined at all, but it’s not great.
”It’s hard enough to play Ronnie O’Sullivan, but he’s the only player, just about, on tour who uses that chalk. Hopefully, they bring in a ban, but there are only a couple of players who use it.”
Higgins suffered a notable kick in the deciding frame against O’Sullivan while he was potting a red.
He could be heard saying ”oh, my God” as the white didn’t run on as expected and left him out of position on the black.
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Higgins missed the black, but it didn’t ultimately prove costly as he later won the match.
Asked whether he would raise the possibility of banning the chalk, Robertson said: ”It’s something to bring up, because it can really ruin the game.
”It’s not really fair for the players who aren’t using it. It can be used tactically if someone wanted to, which I don’t think should be allowed in the game.
”Shaun [Murphy] and I were just having a little chuckle about it. We would love to see it removed from the face of the earth. Even snooker clubs are banning it. Why are we using it?”
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'Just glad I came to the party' - Higgins revels in fightback win over O'Sullivan
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson and Higgins will meet in the quarter-finals starting on Tuesday.
Higgins, 50, is bidding to become the oldest player to win a World Championship after roaring back to beat O’Sullivan.
Higgins looked in serious trouble at 9-4 down but recovered to win - and said afterwards that O’Sullivan’s choice of chalk makes him even more difficult to play against.
”I’m just delighted I came to the party in the third session, because the first two sessions, how I was only 9-7 behind, I’ll never know," said Higgins, after coming from behind to beat O’Sullivan.
”Ronnie was by far the better player, his cue ball was amazing and that’s what sort of makes you just feel inferior sometimes, when his cue ball is so much better and I’m scrapping about.
”But there are circumstances why that is because we all know he uses the other chalk and different things, so that’s what makes the table play a little bit bouncy.
”It’s all messy and different things, so it’s tough to play against, but you’ve just got to try and get it out of your mind.
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'What a contest between two all-time legends' - Higgins celebrates epic win over O'Sullivan
Video credit: TNT Sports
”I know as players we speak about it. Why wouldn’t you take the advantage when you have got a better cue ball control than every other player?
”So why wouldn’t you have that advantage? Because if you’re going in at a level playing field, everybody’s using the same chalk, no chalk marks, everything, it maybe gives players more chance of beating them.
”Now, that’s what people do in every sport, they try to use the little advantage. I don’t know, you’d obviously have to ask Ronnie’s real feelings about that, about using old chalk. Who knows?”
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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