Milkins rues destructive temperament

Robert Milkins believes he would now be challenging for honours but for his suspect temperament.

The English player reached the semi-finals of the Fáilte Irish Masters with a 6-3 win over Dave Harold last night and is convinced he has been his own worst enemy in the past.

“If I had have had anyone else’s head on my shoulders I would be doing fine,” he said. “I definitely believe I am a top-16 player. But unfortunately my head is not in the top 16.

“I have lost matches I should have won because of the way I have been thinking. I suppose I could have gone to a psychologist but I do not really believe in them.

“Besides, I am too lazy. Hopefully, my head will be right when I play my next match tomorrow.”

Milkins’ next opponent is 2003 UK champion Matthew Stevens, who ended Stephen Hendry’s interest yesterday.

“I have got a good record against Matthew but I am going to have to raise my game.”

Indeed, Milkins defeated the Welshman 9-8 at the 2002 UK Championship albeit after leading 8-3.

He then went out to Peter Ebdon in the quarter-finals and lost 5-4 to Steve Davis at the same stage of the Welsh Open 13 months ago.

“I am chuffed to bits to get this far. I have not really done anything differently this tournament than I normally do. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen.”

Stevens displayed his best form since winning the UK title in 2003, coming from 5-3 down to defeat Hendry 6-5 in a brilliant match.

“I have been working hard and that is the reason why things have started to come right,” said the world number six.

The penultimate quarter-final features two players who have suddenly discovered form that had eluded them for so long this season.

Mark Williams, without a title victory since October 2003, meets Stephen Lee, the 1999 Irish Masters runner-up.

Welshman Williams, like Irish stablemate Ken Doherty, is battling to retain his place in the top 16 next season.

It has been an amazing fall from grace for the 29-year-old left-hander who was world number one just under two years ago after his second world title victory.

Victories over Paul Davies and Alan McManus have clinched Williams his first quarter-final of 2004-05.

World champion and world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan brings the quarter-finals to a close this evening when he meets Kent’s Gerard Greene.