Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White marvel at 'unorthodox' snooker pro at Welsh Open - 'He doesn't feel pressure'

20.02.2023 - 01:17 eurosport.com

Eurosport experts Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White have expressed their admiration for the «unorthodox» Robert Milkins as he competed against Shaun Murphy in the Welsh Open final.

After 27 years as a professional, the 46-year-old won his first ranking title at the 2022 Gibraltar Open, becoming the oldest first-time winner of a ranking event since Doug Mountjoy at the 1988 UK Championship.

He has otherwise been something of a journeyman on the World Snooker Tour. Ad But for all his struggles and hard work, O'Sullivan and White have been marvelling at how relaxed, free-flowing and instinctive Milkins is.

Both snooker legends have been mightily impressed by his speed, unorthodox play and the fact that pressure does not seem to get to him at all.

White Ronnie Osullivan Jimmy White Shaun Murphy Britain Gibraltar

Ding Junhui held his nerve superbly to secure a second Six Red World Championship with an 8-6 victory over home favourite Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Bangkok. The Chinese sporting icon lifted the trophy in 2016 with a last-gasp 8-7 win over Stuart Bingham, but dominated the 14th frame before a vociferous home crown to avoid being forced to another final-frame decider.

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh wins epic with Hossein Vafaei to set up Ding Junhui final clash at Six Red World Snooker Championship

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh battled back from 5-2 and 6-4 behind to edge out Hossein Vafaei 7-6 and reach the Six Red World Championship final in Bangkok. The popular Thai speed merchant had to display fortitude as much as flair in a thrilling semi-final that saw Vafaei miss a tricky pink to the green pocket in the penultimate frame that would have sealed a 7-5 victory.

Ronnie O’Sullivan out of Six Red World Snooker Championship as Ding Junhui sets up semi-final with Tom Ford

Ronnie O’Sullivan is out of the Six Red World Championship after he was beaten 6-2 by former winner Ding Junhui in the last 16 before the Chinese icon continued his solid form by progressing to the semi-finals of the Bangkok invitational event. O’Sullivan had previously stated he was targeting the £100,000 first prize on his competitive debut in the shorter format at the Thammasat University Convention Centre in Pathum Thani, but missed some crucial shots which saw the match slip away after levelling at 2-2.

Ronnie O’Sullivan out of Six Red World Championship after loss to Ding Junhui, Judd Trump beats Mark Williams

Ronnie O’Sullivan is out of the Six Red World Championship after he was beaten 6-2 by Ding Junhui in the last 16. O’Sullivan had previously stated to be targeting the event in Thailand, but missed some crucial shots which saw the match slip away. Ad Ding, who whitewashed O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship earlier this season, will face Stuart Bingham in the last eight on Thursday at 11:30 GMT.

Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Jimmy Robertson in Six Red World Championship opener

Ronnie O’Sullivan kicked off his Six Red World Championship campaign with a 5-3 win over Jimmy Robertson.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby: Time running out for 'big four' to turn season around

The Tour Championship at the end of this month is snooker’s most elite event, for just the eight best players of the season. You would have got long odds when the campaign began that the game’s recognised 'big four' would all be missing from the field in Hull, but with one counting tournament to go, that is now a realistic prospect. Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump have established their dominance over snooker’s major events during the last decade.