I'm a top snooker star but my gaming addiction cost me in my career and personal life – certain games are banned at home | The Sun

SNOOKER star Neil Robertson has revealed how his addiction to video games hampered his career and personal life.

The Australian, 41, is the joint-second favourite behind Ronnie O'Sullivan at this year's world championships as he looks to add to his 2010 title.

He has been a professional for more than 20 years, making it to the quarter-finals on nine occasions at the Crucible.

And Robertson feels if his gaming addiction hadn't got in his way then he could have been more focused both on and off the snooker table.

Speaking to Game Quitters, he said: "This addiction cost me a lot in my career and my personal life.

"I probably would have won more tournaments. I won the [snooker] World Championship in 2010, maybe I could have won more if I was fully committed to snooker.

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"I was spending time playing video games when I should have been spending it with my family and on the practice tables.

"I was addicted to League of Legends, World of Warcraft and FIFA. It was ridiculous. I was staying up all night playing these video games.

"My partner Mille absolutely hates it. League of Legends is banned in my house now and rightly so, it is just awful.

"I am a really addictive person with an addictive personality so when I do something I really go at it 100 per cent and try to become the best that I can be at it.

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"Video gaming is obviously extremely unhealthy. Spending so many hours in front of a screen, it affects your sleep, your moods."

Robertson has admitted he sometimes spent ALL NIGHT gaming and was then forced to get on with his day after limited sleep.

He said: "In the past, I've been staying up and playing it.

"Then all of a sudden, it is 6am, the birds are tweeting and I'm thinking: 'Oh my God, I've got to get up in a couple of hours to take my son Alexander to school. Then I've got to practice'."

Robertson went on: "If you are a single guy, and work in a normal job, you can get around it. But you can't win professional snooker matches when you are tired.

"The years I had the 100 centuries, I should probably [have] had around 120 because I got addicted like hell to FIFA 14.

"That really affected the second half of my season.

"I wouldn't say I would have won a lot more tournaments if it wasn't for video games, but I think I would have given myself more opportunities to go further in other events."

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Robertson booked his place in the second round of this year's world championships with a 10-3 win over Wu Yize.

He will begin his second-round match against Jack Jones on Friday.

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