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

Jimmy White is confident of reaching the main stage of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield after a run to the last 16 of the WST Classic; White, 60, beat Judd Trump during a tournament in Leicester; The six-time World Championship runner-up has not reached the Crucible since 2006

Jimmy White says he ‘played too well’ not to reach the first round of the World Snooker Championship for the first time since 2006

Jimmy White believes he “played too well” not to qualify for the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield this spring.

White, 60, has not won a main draw at The Crucible since 2006, but his 2022/2023 season includes some promising results, including making the televised stage at the British Championships in York.

The six-time Word Championship runner-up became the first player aged 60 or over to reach the last 16 of a ranking event since Eddie Charlton in 1992 when he ran into the German Masters last month.

White made the same stage at the WST Classic in Leicester this week, defeating former world champion Judd Trump on Tuesday morning before losing to Pang Junxu in the afternoon.

Londoner told wst.tv: “I’m playing ok, I’m just exhausted. I’m going to rest for a few days now and go back to training on Friday. I’ll get to the Crucible, I’m playing really hard.”

Speaking after beating Trump, White said: “I’m really nervous, but it’s okay to be nervous because it means you’re still alive at my age.

“If you’re not a Judd Trump fan, you’re not a snooker fan. The last five times we’ve played he’s beaten me, so it’s a big win for me.”

World Snooker Championship Qualifying starts on 3 April with the first round starting on 15 April.

O’Sullivan: Snooker ‘worst ever’

Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew from the WST Classic due to an elbow injury

Ronnie O’Sullivan, who won a record seventh world title in 2022, recently revealed Sun snooker is in a “bad place” and called for the injection of more prize money in the sport and some fresh ideas.

The 47-year-old, who withdrew from the WST Classic before his second-round match due to an elbow injury, said: “[Snooker] probably in the worst place ever.

“The image of sports, it’s a bit like pub sports now. It’s in a bad place. It’s in trouble. I’ve brought sports pretty much for the last 20-30 years. It’s not one player. It’s sports.”

World Snooker has responded to O’Sullivan’s comments, insisting there is a bright future ahead for the sport.

A spokesman said: “Last week we held a constructive meeting with the players, which Ronnie unfortunately chose not to attend, where we set out our vision for the future of snooker and addressed issues that are important to the players.

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan believes snooker is in a ‘bad place’

“The results are positive, and the players are encouraged by the progressive strategy organized by WST [World Snooker Tour].

“WST is working diligently in many of the areas that Ronnie raised and has achieved considerable success.

“We work closely with sports agencies, whose clients include the Premier League, FIFA, the Ryder Cup and The Masters.

“Our long-term strategy is based on best-in-class analysis and supported by data. We will certainly welcome Ronnie to share ideas and discuss plans and strategies directly with WST.”