'I was in such a bad place' – Robert Milkins reflects on 'surreal' career-saving snooker title triumph in Gibraltar

Robert 'The Milkman' Milkins admits he would love to deliver more success next season after finally experiencing the buzz of lifting a ranking title at the Gibraltar Open in March. The flamboyant Gloucester potter defeated Lei Peifan (4-0), Jamie Wilson (4-1), Mark Allen (4-3), Lyu Haotian (4-2), Ben Hancorn (4-2) and Jak Jones (4-2) before a 4-2 final success against Kyren Wilson saw him end a 27-year wait for a major trophy. Ad/> At the age of 46, he became the oldest maiden ranking winner since Doug Mountjoy defeated Stephen Hendry 16-12 to lift the 1988 UK Championship.

SnookerHolt loses tour card after 26-year stay on main circuitYESTERDAY AT 12:31 His success remarkably came a fortnight after his birthday celebrations turned sour when he was taken to hospital at the Turkish Masters in Antalya to have his stomach pumped after excess alcohol consumption. Milkin collected £50,000 for his efforts and revealed the winner's cheque was a massive boost. “I was in such a bad place, I can’t even explain it.

I’ve never been like it before. Financially and my mental state was so bad," said Milkins. «I was struggling.

I was practising, but not as much as I wanted to. I couldn’t be bothered to do anything. /> “My children told everyone about it at school.

They were buzzing. When I am doing the school run now, there are so many parents coming up to me and saying well done. Only two weeks before that they were looking at me in a dodgy way.