SHEFFIELD: Australia’s Neil Robertson suffered a shock exit from the World Championships yesterday as the world No.2 crashed to a 10-8 defeat against Robert Milkins.

Robertson held a 5-4 lead overnight and was expected to finish off the world number 19, who is making a rare appearance in the sport’s most prestigious event at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

But the 2010 world champion produced a lackluster performance and England’s Milkins was able to take advantage.

Milkins, 37, took a 46-minute opener to level at 5-5 before going ahead for the first time in the match.

Robertson showed some form with an 86 break to draw level, but fluency was in short supply for the Melbourne-born star.

Milkins left Robertson needing four snookers at the end of the 17th frame, at 8-8, and he got three of them.

But Milkins clipped in a difficult long brown ball and added blue and pink to go one frame away from victory.

Making his first appearance at the Crucible since 2005, Milkins showed few nerves as the winning line approached, but when he missed a blue on 51 they might have been jangling a touch.

But Robertson could not capitalize on his chance to force a decider and Milkins clinched the biggest win of his career.