Thirty years after winning his first and only UK Championship title, Jimmy White will be well received when he returns to the final stages of the Championship in York on Saturday.
At the age of 60, White has ousted former winner Stephen Maguire and world number 57 Dominic Dale by ranking to reach the last 16 for the first time in over a decade.
White’s achievement is all the more significant given the difficulties he has faced on the track in recent seasons, leading some to question the validity of continuing to award the 1992 winner and six-time world runner-up a wild card to the ring.
But for Joe Perry, who at 48 is the second-oldest player in the draw, and whose success at the Welsh Open earlier this year made him the event’s second-oldest winner, White continues to provide inspiration for generations of players.
Perry, who will play his friend Neil Robertson on Sunday, said: “Jimmy gets a wild card as long as he wants it. He’s great at the game and it’s nice to see him get some rewards for all his hard work.
“Without a doubt, he’s an inspiration to all of us. When I think Jimmy is 60 and he’s still struggling, and I think it’s about time I’m 48, he’s 12 years older than me, so you can’t complain about your age.”
White made his UK Championship debut in 1984, losing to Steve Davis in the round of 16, and reached finals in 1987 and 1991 before winning the title in 1992, defeating John Parrott 16-9 in the final.
It took another 11 years for White before he made it back to the semi-finals of the tournament, where he saw his run come to an end with eventual winner Matthew Stephens in 2003.
“Both of these guys are in the top 16 for a reason and that’s because they’re consistent,” White told the World Snooker Tour. “I’m ranked because I’m not consistent, but my ‘A’ game is comparable to any of them.”
Defending champion Zhao Zhentong opened the tournament on Saturday afternoon against Sam Craigie, before White and Day delivered the highlight of the opening evening session.
Stephens, who swept White en route to his only title in 2003, turned back the clock to make it past the playoffs and set up a first-round meeting with Ronnie O’Sullivan on Monday.
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