Jimmy White

Snooker results: Jimmy White's renaissance continues in opening round of the WST Classic

By Sporting Life

Snooker

Fri March 17, 2023 · 2y ago

Jimmy White's superb season could get even better after he battled back from 2-0 down to defeat Graeme Dott 4-2 in opening round of the inaugural WST Classic in Leicester.

The Whirlwind has rolled back the years on numerous occasions this year, including qualification for his first UK Championship since 2010 and also becoming the first player aged 60 or older to reach the last 16 of a ranking event since Eddie Charlton in 1992.

Competing in his seventh ranking tournament of the campaign, White looked up against it when the Scottish veteran compiled breaks of 130 and 51 to open up a 2-0 lead.

The 60-year-old pinched a hard-fought third frame to get himself back in the match and kicked on to move 3-2 ahead before wrapping up victory with a break of 56.

Elsewhere, Ronnie O’Sullivan made safe progress into the second round while there was a milestone for Judd Trump as he also advanced.

Seven-time and reigning world champion O’Sullivan saw off Egypt’s world number 117 Mohamed Ibrahim 4-2, registering breaks of 137 and 104 along the way.

Trump’s 4-1 victory over David Lilley saw him join O’Sullivan and John Higgins in an elite club – the only players in history to have made 900 career centuries. That was achieved with a 113 that put him 2-1 against Lilley, and Trump later sealed the triumph with another to add to the tally, a 131.

Mark Williams edged past Sean O’Sullivan 4-3 and Kyren Wilson was a 4-1 victor against Dean Young. But world number 10 Luca Brecel was defeated 4-2 by Haydon Pinhey, an amateur from Plymouth who made two century breaks en route to victory.

Ryan Day, ranked 18th in the world, also exited at the hands of a player with amateur status, beaten 4-1 by Steven Hallworth.

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