Milkins in close battle for final place

Matthew Stevens and Robert Milkins could not be separated after the first session of their Failte Irish Masters semi-final in Dublin tonight.

Underdog Milkins led three times but had to settle for a 4-4 scoreline after two hours 38 minutes of action.

And that represents a disappointing outcome for the Gloucester professional, competing in the last four of a ranking event for the first time.

Milkins, chasing his fifth win of the competition, led 4-2, helped by a re-spotted black finish to the fifth frame.

But Stevens responded with breaks of 70 and 56 to restore parity.

The duo have met only once before, in the 2002 UK Championship, with world number 28 Milkins shading the result 9-8 after leading 8-3.

And it could be every bit as close this time as the first to nine goes through to play Mark Williams or Ronnie O’Sullivan in Sunday’s final.

Milkins, 29, was behind only once when world number six Stevens clinched the opening frame.

But a 49 at the start of the second frame eventually helped him to square the contest. His highest breaks of 51 came in frames three and six while 2000 world finalist Stevens also included two half centuries.

He will be hoping for an all-Welsh final to conclude the tournament though Williams faces a testing game against O’Sullivan tomorrow.

“Matthew and I have been having a bit of banter this week because we’ve both actually won a few games for a change,” said Williams.

“It’s nice to see him doing well and hopefully we’ll both get into the final.”