Robert Milkins, the seasoned professional from Gloucester, faces the end of his snooker tour career after unsuccessful attempts to regain his place at Q School. Milkins' status on the professional circuit had already been in jeopardy following his exit from the 2026 World Championship, which caused him to fall outside the top 64 in the world rankings.
A stalwart of the sport since 1995, Milkins had maintained a presence among the game’s elite for decades. As recently as 2024, he entered the World Championship as a seeded player at the Crucible, winning his opening match. However, a downturn in form has seen his ranking plummet over the past two years.
His hopes of retaining his professional status for the next season were dashed at Q School, held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. In the first event, Milkins was narrowly defeated 4-3 by Welshman Duane Jones in the third round. In the final event, he again came agonizingly close, losing 4-3 in the semi-finals to China’s Gong Chenzhi, who ultimately secured qualification by winning the final.
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At 50 years old, Milkins now faces an uncertain future in professional snooker after a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades.