By ADAM LAZZARI WHILE his close friend and practice partner Neil Robertson lifted the Snooker Grand Prix title, Joe Perry was back in Chattteris celebrating his daughter s third birthday. The Cambridge-based Australian knocked Perry out of the quarter-fi

By ADAM LAZZARI

WHILE his close friend and practice partner Neil Robertson lifted the Snooker Grand Prix title, Joe Perry was back in Chattteris celebrating his daughter's third birthday.

The Cambridge-based Australian knocked Perry out of the quarter-final on Friday, winning 5-1, before beating world champion John Higgins 6-5 in the semis and China's Ding Junhui 9-4 in Sunday's final at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.

On the same day Perry's daughter, Lexie, turned three.

He said: "We had a bit of a party and it cheered me up after my defeat.

"I played very poorly in my quarter-final and I was never really at my best at the Grand Prix. I've not been on form recently and I felt some nerves.

"I was really pleased to see Neil win, he's been in great form and he was superb.

"We practice together at the same club quite regularly. We don't play each other as much as we should and it's hard to say who wins the most out of the two of us."

Earlier Perry has beaten Marcus Campbell, 5-2 in the first round and Barry Pinches by the same scoreline in the second.

Sunday's win saw Robertson, originally from Melbourne, become the first player from outside Britain and Ireland to win four ranking titles.

He said: "Six years ago, if you'd told me I would win four tournaments, I'd have said 'no chance'.

"I was �10,000 in debt to people who had lent me money for trips to amateur events, and when I came to Cambridge I only had �500. Survival was my only ambition. It's amazing to come through that, not many people could have done it. It's the same for Ding, he's also had the language and culture gap to deal with, and it's good to see him back on form."

Robertson is up to third in the provisional rankings, behind Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan, and believes that the top spot is not out of reach.

He said: "John is long way ahead but I will keep practicing hard and give it a go.

"A lot of people say that it's better to be World Champion, but to be World No 1 is an unbelievable achievement and proves that you've been the most consistent player over two years.

"I've won the Grand Prix twice now, which is our third-biggest ranking event, and I'd like to win one of the UK, Masters and World Championship to put myself up there as a top player.