Perry overcomes Milkins

By Phil Harlow
BBC Sport at The Crucible

Joe Perry had some nervous moments before seeing off Robert Milkins 10-7 in the opening round at The Crucible.

The 16th seed began the session with a 6-3 lead, but Milkins started strongly to take the first frame of the day.

Perry came out on top in three successive scrappy frames and looked to be strolling through with a 9-4 lead.

But with his back to the wall, Milkins produced his best snooker. Breaks of 51 and 65 helped him cut the defecit to 9-7, before Perry finished things off.

He admitted afterwards that he he made hard work of his victory.

"I was starting to worry a bit at 9-7," said Perry. "I knew he would come out and go for everything - he was running round the table playing at 100mph.

"I think Robert was thinking too much earlier in the match and he showed he was much more dangerous when he just gets on and plays it as he sees it."