Missed call, missed pot - Neil Robertson fumes at fan after ringing phone ends break in Welsh Open 2026 clash with Hossein Vafaei

It is rare that Neil Robertson allows anything to distract him, but he was put off mid-shot in the third frame of his Welsh Open victory over Hossein Vafaei. The guilty spectator got a telling off from the referee, and Robertson cut a frustrated figure as he walked away from the table, though the incident did not stop him winning comfortably and advancing to the third round in Llandudno.

Robertson says 'it's for me' as ringing phone ends his break

Video credit: TNT Sports

Neil Robertson eventually came through his Welsh Open second round match against Hossein Vafaei, winning 4-1.

But it was not entirely straightforward for The Thunder from Down Under, who had previously got the better of teenager Michal Szubarczyk.

The two-time Welsh Open winner lost an opening frame that lasted 51 minutes against Iranian Vafaei.

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Robertson responded to take the second frame on the black, but there was a moment of exasperation in the third frame through no fault of his own.

As he lined up what seemed to be, by his standards, a fairly routine red, a phone rang in the crowd.

Robertson had already committed to the shot and the result was a missed red. "It's for me," the Australian joked.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

The referee instructed the spectators to ensure their phones were switched off to avoid a repeat of the incident.

But Robertson was understandably perturbed, sitting down with visibile frustration etched on his face.

"I'm surprised actually that Robertson didn't try and step away from that shot," said TNT Sports' commentator.

"He's so annoyed because in these venues, even though there's hundreds of people in there, it is very quiet. A ringing mobile phone shatters concentration."

Robertson recovered from the setback, though, winning the third frame and the final two with breaks of 100 and 118.

That set up a meeting with Welshman Jak Jones in the third round - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - after he won 4-2 against Scotland's Anthony McGill.

Jones will hope he can beat world No. 3 Robertson on home soil, but the latter is now amongst the favourites to win another title with Kyren Wilson out and Judd Trump not involved.