Welsh Open 2023: Robert Milkins opens up on what life-changing £230,000 pay cheque means after victory over Shaun Murphy

Final 12 months, Robert Milkins admitted he was “struggling” to place meals down on the desk for his household such had been his monetary woes – however now the ‘Milkman’ has simply claimed a “life-changing” £230,000 pay cheque after he received the Welsh Open.

Welsh Open

Murphy and Milkins all sq. in Welsh Open remaining forward of night conclusion

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“I can’t even converse,” mentioned Milkins, who now has two rating titles to his identify.

“It’s unreal, actually. All via the day, I used to be kind of struggling a bit. Similar as Shaun. We had been each struggling and clearly, I’ve plenty of causes to wrestle – it’s some huge cash for me, that’s!

“I simply tried not to consider it. To be honest, I performed alright within the night however to start out off with in the present day, it was actually laborious work, and if Shaun would have been just about 20 per cent of his recreation, I’m positive he would have taken a lead going into tonight.”

On the £150,000 bonus, Milkins admitted that it’s a life-changing sum of cash.

“Yeah, it’s. Positively. It is only a dream, actually.

“I misplaced within the semis in Germany to Ali Carter and all I used to be interested by was the Gamers Championship. And I assumed ‘I’ve received to undergo all of it once more right here, do all of the laborious work, get to a semi’.

“After which I’ve received to the semi after which, clearly, the stress comes on much more, you realize, not solely simply the bonus, however the trophy is extra essential to me, and I am simply so glad I received there in the long run.”

Requested the way it felt to get his fingers on the trophy, Milkins mentioned: “It’s unreal. I imply, clearly, Gibraltar was good. That was the primary one. However beating somebody like Shaun within the best-of-17 in a remaining – even when he didn’t play effectively – is simply the icing on the cake, you realize.

“It’s unreal, actually, as a result of it’s important to play effectively to beat somebody like Shaun or play pretty first rate and I feel I did in the long run.”

Again within the Eurosport studio, Milkins was requested to replicate on his current monetary issues. Earlier than claiming the Gibraltar Open in March 2022, he had received simply three matches that season, as his confidence – and his financial institution stability – took successful.

“Yeah, actually powerful,” he mentioned.

“I used to be enjoying alright, I simply couldn’t win. Once you’re enjoying alright and also you come off and also you’ve misplaced, it simply makes it even worse. Once you’re enjoying to attempt to put some bread on the desk, it’s powerful.”

There had been indicators that Milkins was on the verge of successful one other rating title after he made it to the semi-final of the German Open and the last-32 of the World Grand Prix.

On his current kind, he mentioned: “I’ve been on the crest of a wave for a very long time. Even once I’m not enjoying so effectively, I appear to be successful matches.”

And the way he felt to win the Welsh Open and to obtain such a big pay cheque, Milkins added: “I’m feeling on high of the world to let you know the reality. The feelings I used to be going via all night, actually, understanding what was on the road… it was actually powerful. I’ve by no means performed for that kind of cash earlier than and clearly the Welsh Open title as effectively, all of it mixed is an excessive amount of to take, actually.”

“Perhaps there was a turning level in there someplace and he mentioned: ‘Perhaps I’ve received to get my act collectively now’, you realize.”

Milkins was a totally deserved winner, continued Foulds, who paid tribute to the veteran for taking part in such good snooker underneath a lot stress.

“Nothing received in his means,” Foulds added.

“I assumed that break in that final body was pretty much as good as any I’ve seen in lots of, a few years by anyone. He’s received a special kind of agenda happening to the person he’s enjoying, he’s received a special battle to win with this bonus. For Robert Milkins, there was one thing further, and the entire spin-offs – the Champion of Champions, the Gamers Tour Championship, he’s most likely going to be on the Crucible now. Perhaps on the Masters subsequent 12 months, all of this stuff, and all of it was hinging on these final couple of frames.

“He can play underneath stress, there’s little question. He’s a seasoned participant. On this world of individuals having thoughts coaches, completely different technical coaches, happening particular diets – there’s a man who’s only a good snooker participant, you realize? And all of that stuff he doesn’t do – let’s be trustworthy – he’s simply an extraordinary bloke, however what a participant.

“Tonight, he was by far the higher participant. More often than not he performed effectively. I imply, he’s simply mentioned ‘I performed alright’; that’s as a lot as you’re going to get out of him.

“He put in all the massive balls and when he did not know what to do, he could be very composed and play a security shot consistent with a person with the entire expertise that he is received, you realize. A terrific efficiency from an excellent snooker participant. A well-liked character on the tour and tonight is his night time.”

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