GLOUCESTER snooker ace Robert Milkins has set up a first round tie with Stephen Hendry after a tense win over Joe Swail in qualifying for the China Open.

Milkins defeated the Irishman 5-4 with a break of 78 in the final frame after a pulsating match in Beijing.

Swail has been in good form recently, reaching the final of the Welsh Open, but could not put away the man who hails from the Westgate club.

Milkins, who trapped Swail in a tough snooker to give him the chance that won the final frame, said: "You always feel pressure in the last frame, but the way the balls opened up for me, I would have had to make a bad mistake to run out of position. It was a nice break to have."

But he does not rate his chances against Hendry today.

"Going on past results, I haven't got much chance against him, but he has not been on form this season," he added. "I played him in Bahrain and he beat me 5-2, it was probably the best he's been for the past couple of years and if he plays like that again it will be tough."

Milkins beat home favourite Liang Wenbo in the previous qualifying round.