Making his debut at the event, the seven-time world champion O’Sullivan was forced to battle hard for the victory against former Welsh Open winner Milkins in a match high on misses and moments of magic from both men.
O’Sullivan led early on in an unpredictable semi-final, but was forced to rely on his powers of recovery after ‘The Milkman’ had established leads at 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 in threatening to upset the odds.
In the end, it was O’Sullivan’s ability to find some trademark pieces of inspiration, including several doubles in a brilliant 75 break in the 10th frame, that saw him set up a meeting with Joe Perry in Sunday’s best-of-19 frame title match.
“Conditions were really tough,” O’Sullivan, who defeated Ken Doherty (4-1) and Peter Lines (4-2) on Friday to reach the last four, told Channel 5.
“None of the players are making excuses. I thought we were cueing well but it is just sometimes you can fall out of position and keep chasing the balls.
“It is hard, especially under pressure in front of a big crowd. So I think we’ve done really well considering the conditions.
“I’m messing about with different types of cue actions so it was a good experience to play under pressure, lose it and get it back. It is all new for me. So I’m enjoying that process.”
O’Sullivan’s most recent major title came in January 2024 when he defeated Judd Trump 10-7 in the World Grand Prix final in Leicester.
For Milkins, the tournament will act as a warm-up for his trip to Q School later this month as he bids to regain his main tour card on the World Snooker Tour circuit.
“I’m not quite sharp, my match sharpness,” said Milkins, who edged a black-ball decider against Jimmy White in the last 16.
“I’ve disrespected the game for too long. I was struggling to get back into it. There are signs of playing well but I just missed too many easy balls. It will come but I’ve got to put a couple of weeks in now before Q School.
“Ronnie scares the hell out of me always. I respect Ron. No other player does that to me. It is bad enough playing him when you are playing well. But when you are struggling, you’ve got no chance.”
World Seniors Championship results/schedule
Final
- Ronnie O’Sullivan v Joe Perry 12:30
Semi-finals
- Robert Milkins 5-7 Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Craig Steadman 5-7 Joe Perry
Quarter-finals
- Igor Figueiredo 1-4 Robert Milkins
- Peter Lines 2-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Craig Steadman 4-3 Ali Carter
- Matthew Stevens 1-4 Joe Perry
Last 16
- Igor Figueiredo 4-0 Alfie Burden
- Robert Milkins 4-3 Jimmy White
- Stuart Bingham 2-4 Peter Lines
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Ken Doherty
- Nigel Bond 3-4 Craig Steadman
- Ali Carter 4-2 Roger Farebrother
- Matthew Stevens 4-2 Dominic Dale
- Joe Perry 4-2 Aaron Canavan
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Result: O’Sullivan 7-5 Milkins
But no late charge from the Milkman as O’Sullivan sees it out to reach the World Seniors final for the first time.
O’Sullivan 6-5 Milkins (17-7)
Ronnie O’Sullivan just missed another long-range red.
This is a big chance for Milkins, but another big chance eludes him among the balls.
O’Sullivan 6-5 Milkins (16-1)
This has all the makings of another closely-fought frame.
The Rocket is on the front foot as things stand, but he ran out of options before leaving Milkins with a pottable red.
O’Sullivan 6-5 Milkins (0-0)
The 12th frame is underway.
O’Sullivan 6-5 Milkins (0-0)
The Rocket is back in front.
obert Milkins will be kicking himself for missing that blue.
O’Sullivan 5-5 Milkins (68-14)
Robert Milkins needs a snooker to win it after another excellent frame from The Rocket.
O’Sullivan 5-5 Milkins (30-14)
The Milkman just missed a simple blue, and now The Rocket has a great chance to win the frame.
O’Sullivan 5-5 Milkins (14-13)
Ronnie O’Sullivan just attempted a difficult long-range red, but it did not work out, and to make matters worse he also broke up the pack.
Now Robert Milkins has a chance to reassert himself in this match.
O’Sullivan 5-5 Milkins (0-0)
The eleventh frame is underway.
O’Sullivan 5-5 Milkins (0-0)
The Rocket was sensational in the tenth frame.
He produced a break of 75 to level things up at 5-5.
This could go either way, but if O’Sullivan plays like that, it will be a big ask for Milkins.
O’Sullivan 4-5 Milkins (62-0)
This is more like it.
O’Sullivan produced another double to extend his lead.
This break of 62 is his highest of the game so far.
O’Sullivan 4-5 Milkins (16-0)
What a start from The Rocket.
He just produced a delightful double before potting the black by the finest of margins.
It is a crucial frame for O’Sullivan, let’s see if he can keep this up.
O’Sullivan 4-5 Milkins (0-0)
The tenth frame is underway.
O’Sullivan 4-5 Milkins (0-0)
The Milkman just finished off the frame with a beautiful long-range red into the bottom left pocket.
That’s enough to see him with the ninth.
What an opportunity to record a historic win for the 50-year-old.
O’Sullivan 4-4 Milkins (23-60)
Milkins just let an incredible opportunity slip, but The Rocket has handed him another chance to finish the frame.
O’Sullivan 4-4 Milkins (23-0)
O’Sullivan just attempted an audacious plant, but it did not come off, and now Milkins is back on his feet.
O’Sullivan 4-4 Milkins (8-0)
That’s better from Ronnie O’Sullivan.
He scattered the pack of reds with a brilliant shot before potting the black to extend his lead.
O’Sullivan 4-4 Milkins (0-0)
The ninth frame is underway at The Crucible,
O’Sullivan 4-4 Milkins (0-0)
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the eighth frame.
O’Sullivan 3-4 Milkins (51-53)
The pressure is starting to tell.
Ronnie O’Sullivan missed a difficult shot on the brown, but Robert Milkins could not capitalise, missing a shot on the brown.
O’Sullivan 3-4 Milkins (38-49)
Robert Milkins had a huge chance to take a two-frame lead here, but a shot on the final red was an inch or two off the mark.
Now The Rocket is back at the table.
O’Sullivan 3-4 Milkins (8-17)
Another excellent start from The Milkman.
He took a 17-0 lead and was inches away from a beautiful shot on the black.
It was not to be, and now The Rocket is back at the table,
O’Sullivan 3-4 Milkins (0-0)
The eighth frame is underway.
O’Sullivan 3-4 Milkins (0-0)
O’Sullivan concedes the frame.
Could Milkins produce a stunning upset at The Crucible?
O’Sullivan 3-3 Milkins (22-68)
What a break from The Milkman.
He just produced a visit of 64 to leave O’Sullivan needing a snooker to win the frame.
O’Sullivan 3-3 Milkins (17-4)
A dramatic start to the seventh sees O’Sullivan pot a stunning long-range red, only for the cue ball to then tap in a green.
Milkins can’t capitalise though, and now The Rocket is back on the front foot.
O’Sullivan 3-3 Milkins (0-0)
The seventh frame is underway
O’Sullivan 3-3 Milkins (0-0)
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins the sixth frame.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (36-31)
The Rocket appeared to be close to winning the frame, but he missed a shot on the green.
Milkins could not capitalise, and now O’Sullivan is back at the table, and on the verge of winning the frame.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (36-31)
O’Sullivan has retaken the lead in the sixth frame.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (8-31)
The Milkman could have won the frame there, but poor cue control has left him with very few options.
The Rocket is not out of it yet.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (8-16)
Another closely-fought frame at The Crucible.
The Rocket was at the table, but he missed a shot on the black, handing Milkins another chance to take a 4-2 lead.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (0-16)
Milkins produces a break of 16 to take an early lead in the sixth frame.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (0-0)
The sixth frame is underway.
O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins (0-0)
An excellent start after the interval for The Milkman.
He stormed into a commanding lead and did not give The Rocket a chance.
It is now 3-2 to Milkins ahead of a crucial sixth frame.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Milkins (0-42)
Milkiins gets off to a fine start, producing a break of 27 to take the lead in the fifth frame.
Ronnie O’Sullivan couldn’t capitalise, and upon his return, Milkins produced two excellent shots to give himself a chance of taking the lead in the match.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Milkins (0-0)
The fifth frame is underway!
O’Sullivan 2-2 Milkins (0-0)
The Milkman wins the fourth frame.
It is 2-2 at the interval.
O’Sullivan 2-1 Milkins (16-59)
The Milkman just handed O’Sullivan another chance, but The Rocket can’t take advantage.
Milkins is back at the table.
O’Sullivan 2-1 Milkins (8-41)
Ronnie O’Sullivan just missed an easy red, and now Milkins is on the front foot again.
Another good shot takes his total up to 36.
O’Sullivan 2-1 Milkins (8-35)
Milkins started the frame well, but more disappointing cue control has resulted in him running out of options again.
The Rocket is back at the table now.
O’Sullivan 2-1 Milkins (8-7)
The fourth frame is underway.
O’Sullivan 2-1 Milkins (0-0)
The Rocket is back in the lead.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (70-56)
What a frame.
Milkins played so well and produced arguably the shot of the Championship.
However, he owned up to a foul while potting the blue.
The Rocket capitalized to take the frame and make it 2-1.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (59-56)
Incredible sportsmanship from Milkins after producing one of the shots of the tournaments to pot the green.
He has just owned up to a foul with just the blue, pink and black remaining.
This frame is still hanging by a threa.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (54-47)
Another beauty from Milkins.
An excellent shot to pot the red, and he followed it up with an excellent effort on the black.
However, the cue ball did not land where he wanted it and now O’Sullivan is back at the table.
This frame could still go either way.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (45-39)
Just as Milkins looked to be winning the frame, he handed the Rocket a route back into it.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (41-32)
Ronnie O’Sullivan missed a simple shot on the pink, handing Robert Milkins another chance to take the frame.
Some poor cue control left The Milkman with a tough shot on the red shortly after, but he bounced back with a brilliant effort, and now he is on a roll.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (32-0)
The Rocket is off to a flying start in the third frame.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Milkins (31-74)
Robert Milkins wins the second frame.
O’Sullivan 1-0 Milkins (31-66)
Milkins has taken the lead, and now looks set to win the frame.
O’Sullivan 1-0 Milkins (31-15)
Milkins has played some lovely shots so far.
He just potted a sensational red to get himself back in the frame.
O’Sullivan 1-0 Milkins (31-1)
The second frame is underway.
Milkins potted the first red, and he followed it up with an audacious attacking shot on the green.
However, it did not come off, and now O’Sullivan is on the attack.
O’Sullivan 1-0 Milkins (0-0)
The Rocket wins a dramatic opening frame.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (64-60)
Milkins could not take advantage. He had three clear chances to win the frame, but he let them slip.
O’Sullivan has potted the remaining reds and is now clearing up the colours.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (17-60)
Another O’Sullivan foul has given Robert Milkins the chance to extend his lead.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (17-45)
Another let off for The Rocket.
Robert Milkins was building an impressive break and appeared to be well on his way to winning the frame.
However, he missed a simple red, leaving O’Sullivan with a route back into the match.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (13-39)
It has been a fascinating start at The Crucible.
O’Sullivan has had his chances, but Robert Milkins has taken the lead after a few outstanding shots in a row.
He is currently on a break of 27.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (13-11)
An uncharacteristic foul from O’Sullivan there.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (13-7)
That was a big let off for Robert Milkins
The balls fell kindly for O’Sullivan, but he eventually ran out of options as he tried to build his break.
The Rocket is now in the lead.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (0-7)
Milkins followed up that red with a nice shot on the pink.
However, the cue ball did not come back far enough, forcing the underdog to play it safe with his next shot.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (0-1)
O’Sullivan just missed a long red, allowing Robert Milkins to pot the first ball of the match.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (0-0)
Ronnie O’Sullivan has got us underway in the first frame.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (0-0)
Ronnie O’Sullivan has won all nine of his previous meetings with Robert Milkins.
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (0-0)
The Rocket has had some kind words for Robert Milkins ahead of the start of their match.
“He’s an amazing player, he has won some big tournaments,” he said on Channel 5.
“He is a really good player, you know.”
O’Sullivan 0-0 Milkins (0-0)
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the World Seniors Championship semi-final between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Robert Milkins. We are moments away from the start of the action, so strap in for what is sure to be a thrilling match.
World Seniors Championship results/schedule
Semi-finals
- Robert Milkins 5-7 Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Craig Steadman 5-7 Joe Perry
Quarter-finals
- Igor Figueiredo 1-4 Robert Milkins
- Peter Lines 2-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Craig Steadman 4-3 Ali Carter
- Matthew Stevens 1-4 Joe Perry
Last 16
- Igor Figueiredo 4-0 Alfie Burden
- Robert Milkins 4-3 Jimmy White
- Stuart Bingham 2-4 Peter Lines
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Ken Doherty
- Nigel Bond 3-4 Craig Steadman
- Ali Carter 4-2 Roger Farebrother
- Matthew Stevens 4-2 Dominic Dale
