World Snooker Championship: Jimmy White, 60, says he’s ‘playing too well’ not to reach The Crucible | Billiard News

Jimmy White assured of reaching the World Snooker Championship major stage in Sheffield after advancing to the final 16 of the WST Basic; White, 60, beats Judd Trump in match in Leicester; six-time world runner-up hasn’t reached Crucible since 2006

Jimmy White thinks he’s “enjoying too nicely” to not qualify for the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield later this spring.

White, 60, hasn’t made the principle draw at The Crucible since 2006, however his 2022/2023 season has included a lot of promising outcomes, together with making the British Championship TV stage at York.

The six-time world runner-up turned the primary participant aged 60 or over to succeed in the final 16 in a rating occasion since Eddie Charlton in 1992 throughout his run on the German Masters final month.

White made the identical step on the WST Basic in Leicester this week, beating former world champion Judd Trump on Tuesday morning earlier than being knocked out by Pang Junxu within the afternoon.

The Londoner stated wst.television“I am enjoying nicely, I simply acquired out of breath. I will take just a few days off now and begin coaching once more on Friday. I will the Crucible, I am enjoying too nicely.”

Talking after beating Trump, White stated: “I used to be actually nervous, however it’s okay to be nervous as a result of it means you are alive at my age.

“When you’re not a Judd Trump fan, you are not a snooker fan. The final 5 occasions we have performed he is crushed me, so it is a huge win for me.”

The World Snooker Championship qualifiers start on April 3 with the primary spherical correct on April 15.

O’Sullivan: Snooker ‘worst it’s ever been’

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the WST Basic as a result of an elbow harm

Ronnie O’Sullivan, who gained a document seventh world title in 2022, not too long ago stated The sun this snooker is in a “unhealthy place” and has known as for the injection of higher prize cash into the game and new concepts.

The 47-year-old, who pulled out of the WST Basic forward of his second spherical match with an elbow harm, stated: “[Snooker] might be within the worst place he is ever been.

“The picture of the game, it is sort of like a pub sport now. It is in a nasty place. It is in hassle. I have been carrying the game for concerning the final 20-30 years He isn’t a participant. He is the game.”

World Snooker has responded to O’Sullivan’s feedback, insisting the game has a vivid future.

A spokesperson stated: “Final week we held a constructive assembly with the gamers, sadly Ronnie selected to not attend, the place we set out our imaginative and prescient for the way forward for snooker and addressed points necessary to the gamers.

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan thinks snooker is in a ‘fallacious place’

“Outcomes have been constructive and gamers have been inspired by the progressive technique set by WST [World Snooker Tour].

“WST is working diligently on most of the areas that Ronnie has raised and is reaching appreciable success because of this.

“We work with main sports activities businesses, whose purchasers embody the Premier League, FIFA, Ryder Cup and Masters.

“Our long-term technique is predicated on best-in-class analytics and pushed by knowledge. We might at all times welcome Ronnie to share his insights and focus on our plans and technique immediately with WST.”