Milkins battling for Grand Prix place
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ROBERT MILKINS admits financial pressure is fuelling his World Grand Prix mission at this week’s Scottish Open.
The Gloucester player blew away 2006 world champion Graeme Dott 4-0 in Milton Keynes and then reached the last 32 on Wednesday with a 4-1 win over Ashley Hugill.
Milkins, the world number 46, lies 26th in the one-year rankings and needs to stay in the top 32 to qualify for the Grand Prix later this month.
“I’ve felt a bit dizzy and lightheaded for two days, but I played really well,” the 44-year-old said.
“I know I had to play well to beat Graeme, but I’m chasing the Grand Prix.
“It’s going to be close – you’re playing for the Grand Prix and it would be nice to have some income come in before or after Christmas.
“Obviously there’s not many tournaments, I’ve just had a really good couple of weeks and have been playing well.
“None of us want to be sent home without money or a chance to earn some ranking points, so it does get you a bit twitchy.
“You start thinking the worst. I’m not earning like I should be earning. At the end of the day, £40,000 a year goes nowhere by the time your expenses are out.
“Everyone wants to earn money but we want to earn the big cheques, we don’t just want to earn a couple of grand here and a couple of grand there. It’s difficult against the standard of players today.
“I feel a little bit light-headed, but nothing else and I’ve no symptoms.
“I feel alright and better now I’ve won. Now you get a little cold and you think you’ve got coronavirus, and you can’t sleep at night as you worry about your results.”
Milkins reached the last 32 of the UK Championship and knocked in breaks of 83, 64 and 53 against Dott – ranked 24 places above him – to book the meeting with Hugill, who he beat with breaks of 72 and 62.
Cheltenham’s Jack Lisowski beat Oliver Lines 4-2 in his first round match in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The world number 16 struck breaks of 102, 60 and 51, but then withdrew from the event on Wednesday through illness.
His second round opponent Sunny Akani received a bye to the last 32.
Lisowski’s withdrawal is not related to Covid-19 symptoms.
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