Robert Milkins rates Si Jiahui’s World Snooker Championship title bid after dream run to quarter-finals

The 20-year-old Crucible debutant added the Milkman to his growing collection of prized snooker scalps after edging out 2005 Crucible winner Shaun Murphy 10-9 in the first round.

Si – who defeated the evergreen figures of Tom Ford and Jordan Brown in qualifying – is likely to meet 2020 semi-finalist Anthony McGill in the quarter-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday if the Scotsman can finalise victory over Jack Lisowski.

McGill leads 11-5 before their final session on Monday evening.

“He’s a good player, but might need a few more years. I’m not disappointed because I have had a great season and I could have gone out in the first round here.”

Si completed his victory over Milkins with a break of 105 after earlier contributing 103, 82, 71, 69, 68, 67, 66 and 56.

He is the youngest World Championship quarter-finalist since two-time Crucible finalist Matthew Stevens achieved the feat at the age of 20 in 1998.

The Welshman lost 13-10 to the defending champion Ken Doherty that year, but Si will hope to go one better and could yet set up a mouth-watering semi-final with world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the top half of the draw.

“Since the qualifiers, I have felt peaceful and calm emotionally,” Si told reporters.

“I treat it as if it’s a minor event, like a daily practice, and I try to enjoy the Crucible. Rob is a very aggressive player and plays with a quick rhythm, but I was also in the mindset of expecting opportunities in a match against a player of his style if he’s not in top form.

“He can be very dangerous when playing well. After all, he is a top 16 seed.

“I made a comprehensive break to get over the line in the end. I believed the comeback was improbable so I took my time and did it patiently. I told myself not to rush it.”

Si admits he is feeling good about life after returning home for the first time in three years following a 4-3 defeat to Mark Selby in the second round of the Welsh Open in February.

“After the Welsh Open, I went back to China and spent 20 days with my family,” he said. “I had a great time with my parents and hung out with my girlfriend. I was homesick because it had been three years since I last went home.

“My father owns a pool club and all the customers were watching me playing. It’s great speaking to my dad after matches to get motivation, he’s been genuinely great and supportive.

“Even when it’s after midnight in China when I’m playing, they all stay in the club on to cheer for their local boy. I’m sure they will do the same for my next match.”

With Jak Jones through to the last eight courtesy of a 13-7 win over Neil Robertson, it is the first World Championship since 1988 to witness two debutants in the quarter-finals since the days when a young Tony Drago and Steve James were on the rise.

He has also defeated McGill twice last year (5-2 both times in the last 64 of the European Masters and Turkish Masters respectively) in their only two previous meetings on the main circuit.

He has vowed to continue his attacking strategy if he is confronted by the tough matchplay tactics of McGill.

“He has a very decent Crucible record,” said Si. “The only department of the game I can compete against him is attacking because my safety is supposed to be the worst among the 32 players. I went for it and potted my way through to the quarter-finals.”

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