November 23rd 2024.
The highly anticipated return of the Milkman to the Barbican on Saturday night has created quite a buzz in the snooker world. After all, it has been an impressive 28 years since Rob Milkins first graced the UK Championship with his presence. Who could forget his debut, where he not only battled against the elements, but also against one of the greatest snooker players of all time?
Back in 1996, a young 20-year-old Milkins made his way to the UK Championship, determined to make his mark in the game. His first match was against Neal Foulds, which he managed to win with relative ease. However, his next opponent was none other than Stephen Hendry, who was dominating the snooker scene at the time. Milkins put up a good fight, coming back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the match at 4-4, but ultimately losing to the legendary Hendry.
Despite the loss, Milkins has fond memories of that event, including a humorous anecdote about the extreme temperatures in his room. He recalls opening the window to cool down, only to wake up the next day with a chill in his arm that left him unable to move it. But that's not the only interesting tale from his time at the UK Championship. Milkins has also had some intense matches, including a thrilling 9-8 victory over Matthew Stevens and a close loss to him in later stages. He also fondly remembers playing against Nigel Bond in a match where he was down 7-2, but managed to come back and win.
This year, Milkins is set to face another iconic figure in the snooker world, Ding Junhui, in the evening session on Saturday. Interestingly, Milkins has a history with Ding, having played against him in practice 20 years ago in Northamptonshire. He remembers that Ding didn't seem to want to be there at the time, as Milkins soundly defeated him 5-1. However, he has nothing but kind words for Ding, calling him the nicest person on tour.
Despite Ding's current good form, Milkins is looking forward to the challenge and sees it as a chance to turn his disappointing season around. He acknowledges that his game may not be at its peak right now, but he's confident that he can rise to the occasion against Ding. And with the pressure off, as he sees himself as a free-rolling underdog, he's ready to give it his all and hopefully come out on top.
In the end, Milkins is excited for the opportunity to play against such a skilled and respected opponent like Ding. He knows it won't be an easy match, but he's determined to give it his best shot and see where it takes him. And who knows, maybe this will be the turning point for him and his game. As he puts it, "out there, it could be a different ball game."
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