Milkins run ended by in-form Hawkins after two fine victories

ROB’ Milkins’ fine run at the European Masters in Furth came to an abrupt end with a 5-0 last-16 defeat against an inform Barry Hawkins.

The Gloucester potter, ranked 26 in the world, spent most of the match in his chair as Hawkins knocked in breaks of 76, 132, 114 and 58, but Milkins takes home £7,000 in prize money, having beaten Jak Jones and rising Chinese star Zhao Xintong in earlier rounds.

He shared the opening four frames with Welshman Jones, who had a 107 in frame four, but then breaks of 69 and two 61s saw Milkins through.

Then against world number six Xintong, Milkins was 2-0 and 3-1 up with a top break of 86, and then led 4-2 after a run of 87.

Xintong had missed a maximum chance earlier after 12 reds and 11 blacks, and then levelled at 4-4 by winning frame eight on the black, but Milkins held his nerve to take a notable win.

Jack Lisowski won £4,500 in prize money after a last 32 loss to China’s Zhou Yuelong.

The Churchdown world number 11 went down 5-1, with a break of 90 in frame three giving him his sole success.

He had breaks of 59, 84 and 93 in his opening round 5-2 win over former World Championship runner-up Matthew Stevens.

In the qualifiers for the British Open, Milkins lost 4-0 to Peter Lines in the opening round, while Lisowski’s game with Dominic Dale will be played in the tournament proper in late September.

Milkins is in action in Wigan tomorrow (Friday) against Jenson Kendrick in the qualifiers for the Northern Ireland Open, but Lisowski’s opening game with Li Hang will be played in in the tournament proper in Belfast in October.