Welsh Open 2023: Robert Milkins beats Tian Pengfei to reach second snooker ranking event final of career

ByNigel Chiu

Updated 18/02/2023 at 17:36 GMT

World No. 27 Robert Milkins is into the Welsh Open final after he beat Tian Pengfei 6-2. It’s just the second time Milkins has reached a ranking final, having won the Gibraltar Open last year, and he won the final three frames which made the difference in a match that featured a contrast of styles. Stream the Welsh Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.

Robert Milkins defeated Tian Pengfei 6-2 in the first semi-final of the Welsh Open to reach his second ranking event final.

In a match that featured a contrast of styles, fast and flowing Milkins came out on top and also kept his hopes of winning the £150,000 BetVictor Series bonus alive, should he win the tournament.

He will face Shaun Murphy or Pang Junxu, who play their semi-final at 19:00 on Saturday in Llandudno on Eurosport and discovery+.

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"I don't know how I'm going to feel playing for the money as well," Milkins said in the Eurosport studio. "It's been in my head the last three days!

"I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing having that bonus around. It's tough enough trying to win a final.

"With that [the bonus] as well it's going to be difficult. But, sometimes, when you have got that much pressure on you, you can play alright."

Milkins makes speedy century of 109 to double his lead

It looked like Tian was going to win the opening frame when he was 67 points ahead before he went in-off.

A couple more fouls and a 61 clearance saw Milkins steal the frame and he soon doubled his advantage with a century to lead 2-0.

Tian pulled a frame back after taking advantage of a fluke, which allowed him to play a snooker that Milkins couldn’t get out of.

Tian stops Milkins momentum by getting frame on the scoreboard

Similarly to the first frame, Tian had a big lead and was 48-4 ahead, having frozen Milkins out for half an hour, but missed a pink to the middle which allowed the Englishman to get back in the frame.

It all came down to the final red, which both players had potting attempts at, but it was Milkins who finally slotted it in, along with five of the colours up to the pink, to lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

Tian won a very scrappy fifth frame, before Milkins restored his two-frame lead with a stunning clearance of 89.

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That break seemed to spur the world No. 27 on as scoring visits of 43, 17 and eight put him one away from a place in the final.

His great scoring soon got him over the line as a break of 82 secured the victory.

Considering there is an £80,000 cheque for winning the Welsh Open and the BetVictor bonus of £150,000 on the line, Milkins could be taking home £230,000 on Sunday night if he beats Murphy or Pang.

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Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

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