AMATEUR Ashley Hugill sent shockwaves through the snooker world today after humbling UK Champion Neil Robertson.

The Melbourne potter beat the world number three 5-1 in the first round round of German Masters qualifying at the Robin Park Sports Centre in Wigan - barely a fortnight after his illustrious opponent claimed the game's second biggest tournament in York.

Robertson, who has won every major title in the sport, struck a maximum 147 break in his 10-5 win over Liang Wenbo at the York Barbican but, despite a century in the second frame, was always on the back foot against a calm and composed Hugill.

Showing enormous maturity belying his 21 years, the York CIU player, who picked up his first professional European Tour win in Gibraltar last weekend, closed out the match with a stunning break of 85 to take what is easily the biggest scalp of his fledgling career.

"It's unbelievable. My brain is in meltdown," Hugill said. "I can't even think straight. I am really thrilled. Obviously, top class players - even when they aren't playing well - are still favourites to beat me. He was playing badly and I started playing okay.

"I got to 2-1 and 3-1 but I didn't really want to think 'I am going to win here'. I knew how much pressure that would put on and I was trying to do it one frame at a time. I was thinking, at 4-1, that I needed one more frame and was just trying to stay as calm as possible."

Hugill outfoxed an under-par Robertson, in his first appearance following his UK triumph, with some excellent matchplay. He potted the key balls, some under tremendous pressure at pivotal points in the contest, as he took advantage of some unexpected opportunities.

He went into the interval 3-1 ahead after Robertson missed a brown into a bottom corner pocket and extended his lead with the help of a brilliant long red into the yellow pocket and an even harder frame ball red to the left middle.

When Robertson broke down on 39 in the sixth, Hugill showed outstanding cool as he methodically moved round the balls to victory. He outscored the Australian by nearly 100 points in a well deserved win and will now play Zhao Xintong tomorrow evening as he bids to qualify for the final stages of the tournament at the Tempodrom, in Berlin, next year.

"I do tend to stay composed but, in Gibraltar against Tian Pengfei in the second round, I had a few chances to win the decider and couldn't do it," Hugill added when asked how he had held himself together in the final stages.

"I just worked on a few things and thought about how I could stay more composed and put it into action.

"I can't believe how much more composed I was. I wanted to win the second match in Gibraltar so much and I was trying to win - not just for the money but for my career. I came here thinking I could win. I go into every match thinking that but, most of the time, it doesn't pan out like that.

"The big point in the match was when I was 2-1 up. He missed a brown off the black spot and I potted the brown, a difficult blue and the pink to go 3-1 up. That's what really gave me a chance to win."

Hugill continued: "(At the end) he said 'well played'. I take a lot of confidence from it, like I took a lot of confidence from Gibraltar. I am just delighted. I am going to have to refocus. This is a really good opportunity to go to Germany which, around the tour, many players think is one of the best venues in snooker.

"I would love to be in his (Robertson's) position in ten years' time and the aim is getting there. I will keep putting the hard work in."