Snooker: Robertson wins in China despite passport 'nightmare'

Neil Robertson advanced to the second round of the International Championship in Chengdu before revealing that a passport mix-up almost cost him his place in the tournament.

Robertson, a former world champion, beat the Welshman Ryan Day 6-3 to set up a potential meeting with another Welshman, Matthew Stevens, in the next round.

But the Australian, who lives in England, had visa issues ahead of his trip to China and could have missed the chance to win the new £600,000 world ranking event.

"The past week has been a nightmare," he said. "I sent the passport recorded delivery to the DVLA's Peterborough office, but then they sent it by normal post to Swansea and then back to me.

"The passport finally turned up at my house half an hour before I was due to leave to fly to Shanghai. So I just had to hope that when I arrived they would give me a visa.

"Luckily, World Snooker helped me and I was able to provide all of the supporting documents to prove that I am a snooker player."