Having retired from the main tour during the 2007/8 season due to a recurrence of the health problems that first surfaced back in 2003, I had assumed that Finland’s Robin Hull had given up the game completely. As it turns out however, not only is he still playing, but he is still winning…
While I cannot find anything official on the tournament, I have been informed that the former world number 31 has captured the 2009 Finnish national title with victories over Ville Pasanen and Kimmo Lång, with 4-1 and 4-0 scorelines respectively. Incidentally, the fourth participant in the competition was 20-year-old youngster Antti Mannil, who despite being a relative newcomer to the sport was able to come through the qualifying competition staged earlier on in the season.
I am pleased for Robin that he is still able to compete to a good standard because as one of just 29 players ever to have made over a hundred century breaks, but for his health problems he would surely have been able to establish himself as at least a consistent top 32 player, if not better. While a return to the main tour may be too demanding for him, I am told that he will be competing in the EBSA competitions next month so hopefully he will be able to show his class again on the amateur stage and he will certainly be one to keep an eye on…