Pro Snooker Blog

Name: Robert Milkins

DOB: March 6th, 1976

Nationality: English

Turned Pro: 1995

Highest Ranking: #21 (1990-8, 2006/7)

Current Ranking: #36

Highest Break: 147 (2006 World Championship Qualifiers)

Career Highlights: 2005 Irish Masters semi-finalist, 2002 UK Championship quarter-finalist. 2009 Grand Prix quarter-finalist, 2008 Bahrain Championship quarter-finalist, 2002 World Championship last 16

Career highlights

With a fast, exciting style reminiscent of that of Tony Drago, Robert turned professional in 1995, though it was to be a number of years before he really managed to establish himself on the main tour.

In 2002 however, a run to the last 16 of the World Championship (including a Crucible win over Fergal O’Brien before losing out to Ronnie O’Sullivan), gave his points tally a big boost and lifted him up to 33rd in the rankings.

His next season was to be even better as although he only reached the last 32 at the World Championship, he made his first ranking quarter-final at the 2002 UK Championship. As well as being another milestone in his career, this went a long way to securing top 32 status for Robert as he rose to a career high position of 21st in the rankings.

His next big tournament was to come at the 2005 Irish Masters when Milkins came so close to reaching his first ranking event final, ultimately losing out 9-8 to Matthew Stevens having at one point led 8-5. His fortunes didn’t improve at the World Championship shortly afterwards when he was hammered 10-1 by Mark Williams in the first round, Williams making a 147 in the first frame.

A year later though it was to be Robert’s turn to celebrate a 147 as he made one during his World Championship qualifier with Mark Selby at Pontin’s. Unfortunately for Robert however, he lost the match 10-4 and saw his ranking drop to number 32.

Lean spell

Following this Robert began to struggle for results and following a 2006/7 season in which he won just four ranking event matches dropped down out of the top 32 for the first time since the 2002/3 season. His situation worsened further in 2007/8 as he won just two matches (excluding the round robin stage of the Grand Prix) and finished ranked down in 51st place. This meant that not only would he now have to negotiate three qualifying matches in order to reach the final stages of events, but that he would also start 2008/9 in 59th on the one-year list and in real danger of losing his main tour status.

2008/9 – Recovery

Needing a good campaign to stabilise his position in the rankings, his start to 2008/9 was steady but thankfully for Robert he improved significantly as the season went on. His best result was a quarter-final run in the Bahrain Championship where he lost out to Scotland’s Stephen Hendry, while he also reached the last 32 of the Shanghai Masters before again losing out to Hendry in a close match. Though he suffered a disappointing early exit at the hands of Jamie Jones in the World Championship qualifiers, he had at least done enough to secure his main tour place for 2009/10.

2009/10  – Top 48

Robert’s recovery continued at the start of 2009/10 as he won his opening match of the Shanghai Masters before qualifying for the venue stage of the Grand Prix with victories over Matthew Couch, Andrew Higginson and Stephen Lee at Prestatyn. Once up in Glasgow, wearing a pink waistcoat in support of Breast Cancer Care’s Pink Fridays fundraising campaign (see www.pinkfridays.org.uk), Robert recorded impressive wins over world number five Ali Carter and Mark King to reach the quarter-finals before losing out to Mark Williams.

Though he could not qualify for either the UK Championship or the Welsh Open, Robert was able to win his opening match in both tournaments and maintain the steady accumulation of ranking points. At the China Open however he was in fine form, defeating Mei Xiwen, Marcus Campbell and Michael Holt to reach his second venue of the season.

Another opening match win was to follow at the season-ending World Championship as he looked to qualify for the event for the first time since 2005 but a poor display against Mike Dunn saw his campaign come to an end in the following round. Despite this however, he had enjoyed an excellent season overall and importantly had done enough to reclaim his place among the top 48.