The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

BIG WELCOME FOR WHITE

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Thirty years after winning his first and only UK Snooker Championsh­ip title, Jimmy White will receive a raucous welcome when he returns to the final stages of the tournament in York today.

At the age of 60, White swept aside former winner Stephen Maguire and world No 57 Dominic Dale in qualifying to reach the last 32 for the first time in more than a decade.

White’s feat is all the more remarkable given the struggles he has endured on the tour in recent seasons, leading some to question the validity of continuing to hand the 1992 winner and six-time World Championsh­ip runner-up a tour wild card.

But for Joe Perry, at 48 the second oldest player in the draw, and whose success at the Welsh Open earlier this year made him the second oldest ranking event winner, White is continuing to serve as an inspiratio­n for generation­s of players.

Perry, who will play his close friend Neil Robertson tomorrow, said: “Jimmy gets a wild card as long as he wants one; he is great for the game and it is nice to see him get some reward for all the hard work he puts in.

“Without doubt he is an inspiratio­n to all of us. When I think Jimmy is 60 and still battling away, and I’m thinking it may be time for me and I’m 48, he’s got 12 years on me, so you can’t be moaning about your age.”

White made his first appearance at the UK Championsh­ip in 1984, losing to Steve Davis in the last eight, and reached finals in 1987 and 1991 before his title win in 1992, beating John Parrott 16-9 in the final.

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