Neil Robertson has hinted he could play in the Snooker Shoot Out for the first time in nine years in a bid to win snooker’s newest bonus cash prize of £150,000.

The Australian was speaking after winning the European Masters – snooker’s first ranking event of the new decade – in convincing fashion, beating China’s Zhou Yuelong 9-0.

Victory on Sunday evening saw Robertson win £80,000 and move up to third in the latest world rankings.

And the 2010 world champion has his eyes on yet more prizes as he aims to become the first player to win the BetVictor cash bonus of £150,000.

The brand-new BetVictor European Series sees the player earning the most money across four ranking events winning a bonus of £150,000. The events include the European Masters, the German Masters, the Snooker Shoot Out and the Gibraltar Open.

Neil Robertson. Picture by Monique Limbos 

Robertson now stands in poll position to win the series after earning £80,000 from his European Masters win but to win the six-figure bonus, he may need more strong runs in the German Masters – starting on Wednesday – and possibly more good performances in the Snooker Shoot Out and Gibraltar Open to seal the deal.

The Snooker Shoot Out is one of snooker’s most controversial ranking events as it sees players compete in single frame 10-minute matches and against a shot clock of 15 seconds in the first half and then 10 seconds in the latter period.

Despite the nontraditional rules, the event has been classed as a ranking event in recent years which has proved somewhat controversial to many fans and those involved in the game.

Robertson has only played in the event once – the very first edition in 2011 when it was not classed as a ranking event.

But after lifting the European Masters trophy, Robertson hinted he could be making a rare appearance next month.

He said: “I’m really keen to press home my advantage (for the BetVictor bonus), a good run in Germany could almost secure it for me. You might see me in the Shoot Out as well.”