Rob Milkins made light of his eight-year absence from the Crucible as he mounted a strong fightback against Neil Robertson in the first round of the snooker World Championships, writes Charlie Talbot-Smith
Facing off against world number two Robertson the qualifier from Gloucester proved very comfortable in his surroundings in the opening afternoon session as he pegged the Australian back to 5-4.
Robertson, who won the world title back in 2010, began in ominous fashion, racing into a 2-0 lead with breaks of 78 and 76.
But an 88 in frame three from the 37-year-old Milkins, his highest break of the session, settled his nerves and he battled gamely from then on, pinching the last two frames to keep the game close.
Back in 2002 Milkins made the second round in Sheffield but has not appeared on snooker's biggest stage since 2005.
But after an impressive 18 months for Milkins that has seen him make the semi-finals of the Haikou World Open and the quarters of the Wuxi Classic, Milkins is enjoying some of the best for of his career.
And he will look to pull off a major upset when play resumes on Wednesday afternoon to set up a last 16 clash with Ricky Walden.
Facing off against world number two Robertson the qualifier from Gloucester proved very comfortable in his surroundings in the opening afternoon session as he pegged the Australian back to 5-4.
Robertson, who won the world title back in 2010, began in ominous fashion, racing into a 2-0 lead with breaks of 78 and 76.
But an 88 in frame three from the 37-year-old Milkins, his highest break of the session, settled his nerves and he battled gamely from then on, pinching the last two frames to keep the game close.
Back in 2002 Milkins made the second round in Sheffield but has not appeared on snooker's biggest stage since 2005.
But after an impressive 18 months for Milkins that has seen him make the semi-finals of the Haikou World Open and the quarters of the Wuxi Classic, Milkins is enjoying some of the best for of his career.
And he will look to pull off a major upset when play resumes on Wednesday afternoon to set up a last 16 clash with Ricky Walden.
