Jimmy White’s bid to reach his first World Championship since 2006 has ended in the second round of qualifying after a 10-4 defeat by Martin O’Donnell. The 60-year-old White, ranked No 73 in the world, has not reached the first round at the Crucible in 17 years but was hopeful of a surprise return this year after finding form at the UK Championship and the German Masters.
But the six-times world finalist slipped to a 7-2 deficit in the opening session on Wednesday, and could not claw his way back into the contest at the Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
“A massive thank you to everyone for their support,” White said on Twitter. “After all these years your support is not taken for granted. Disappointing end to the season, but that’s the game we love.”
Stephen Hendry, who beat White in four of those finals, also fell short, losing to James Cahill in the first round of qualifying this week. At the other end of the experience scale, the 16-year-old Stan Moody was beaten in the second round by Zhang Anda.
The arduous qualification process – 128 players are whittled down to the 16 who will join the world’s top 16 in the main draw – continues until next Wednesday.
