Watch: Robert Milkins roars with delight after comeback win over Iulian Boiko in Scottish Open qualifying, as 'Milkman' boosts snooker survival hopes
Updated 16/10/2025 at 07:16 GMT+1
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Robert Milkins boosted his hopes of retaining his spot on the main World Snooker Tour circuit next season by coming back from 3-0 down to beat Iulian Boiko 4-3 and book a trip to the Scottish Open in December. The former Welsh Open champion, who turned professional in 1995, is outside the top 64 in the end-of-season world rankings, only two years after achieving a career-high ranking of 12.
Milkins roars after comeback victory against Boiko
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robert Milkins boosted his World Snooker Tour survival hopes with a rousing 4-3 comeback victory against Iulian Boiko on Wednesday in the second round of Scottish Open qualifying in Wigan.
Trailing 3-0 against the 20-year-old Ukrainian potter, who defeated Jimmy White 4-1 in the opening round of qualifiers, the former Welsh Open winner Milkins reeled off four straight frames with breaks of 66, 59 and 104 to book his trip to Edinburgh for the final stages between December 15-21.
'The Milkman' roared his delight and punched the air after potting the final red in the decider to seal a victory that looked unlikely after he fell 3-0 behind with his opponent producing 69 to snatch the second frame.
Milkins has dropped to 55 in the world from a high of 12 two years ago, and is a lowly 66th in the end-of-season rankings, 6,200 points behind Jordan Brown, two spots off the top 64 that automatically retain their professional tour cards next season.
The Gloucester potter turned professional in 1995 and has been a mainstay of the main circuit over the past 30 years, but will need to find some consistency to avoid a trip to Q School to regain his professional card in May.
He defeated world champion Zhao Xintong 5-2 in the last 64 of the Xi'an Grand Prix last week before losing 5-2 to Daniel Wells in the last 16, his best run of the campaign so far.
Milkins is due to return to action in the last 64 of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast on Monday night when he faces English Open champion Mark Allen at 7pm at the city's Waterfront Hall.
Meanwhile, Anthony McGill, who lost 10-7 to Shaun Murphy in the final of the British Open last month, booked his trip to Edinburgh with a 4-1 win over Liam Davies, boosted by breaks of 85, 54, 89 and 79.
And former British Open holder Ryan Day compiled runs of 51, 83, 53 and 68 to complete a 4-3 win over Yao Pengcheng.
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