Jimmy White stuns Stephen Maguire in UK Championship snooker qualifiers to continue glory run, Marco Fu victory

Jimmy White continued his superb run of form at the UK Championship as he recovered from trailing 3-1 to complete a 6-4 win against 2004 winner and 2019 finalist Stephen Maguire in Sheffield. The six-time world finalist will meet Dominic Dale on Wednesday as he bids to secure a last-32 spot at the York Barbican – 30 years after he won the event in 1992 with a 16-9 final win over John Parrott.

Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White moved within one victory of reaching the last 32 of the UK Championship after completing a stunning 6-4 comeback win from 3-1 behind against Stephen Maguire at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Buoyed by two 6-0 whitewash wins over Victor Sarkis and Mitchell Mann respectively in the first two qualifying rounds, the evergreen 60-year-old three-time World Senior champion unearthed some vintage form in completing a memorable triumph against the 2004 UK champion and 2019 finalist.

White won the opening frame only to watch the no-nonsense Scot roll in breaks of 76 and 100 to establish a 3-1 advantage, but the Londoner emerged after the mid-session interval with his challenge and composure undiminished.

UK Championship

White continues hot streak with second straight whitewash as Fu finds century magic

06/11/2022 at 23:10

He dominated the fifth frame before restoring parity at 3-3 with a delightful 57 break enough to deny Maguire by a point after the former Tour champion had fouled on frame ball red by knocking in a black.

World No. 25 Maguire responded with his second century of the match in rolling in 108, but superb knocks of 61 and 103 saw White move to the cusp of victory at 5-4.

Both men had chances in the final frame with White twitching a black on 22 before Maguire messed up on a tricky mid-range red on 46.

It was White who had the final say as he slotted a delightful long red before clearing to the pink to finish off a famous victory.

He ended the night with a small punch of his fist before blowing a kiss to the camera live on Eurosport.

'Isn't that tremendous!' - White celebrates in style after he beats Maguire in qualifying

Video credit: TNT Sports

He will face 50-year-old Dominic Dale in a battle of the ages on Wednesday afternoon for a place in the last 32 at the York Barbican when the world's top 16 join the fray on Saturday afternoon.

Dale watched Li Hang enjoy breaks of 73, 140, 50 and 87 to move 4-2 clear before winning the final four frames with a 121 and 95 helping the Welshman advance.

White and Dale first met in the last 32 of the 1994 British Open with White winning 5-2. They are level at 5-5 in career head-to-heads.

Elsewhere on Monday, Marco Fu continued his career resurgence with a 6-4 win against Oliver Lines in the second qualifying round.

The Hong Kong Masters finalist eased 5-0 clear with runs of 61, 129 and 94 only for his opponent to recover to within a frame boosted by a 67 and 66, but a closing 103 break secured Fu's progress.

He next meets Anthony Hamilton needing two more wins to reach the York Barbican.

But there will be no place in York for former world semi-finalist Anthony McGill, who suffered a surprise 6-2 defeat to Welshman Duane Jones.

Jones weighed in with 54, 106, 87, 99 and 98 to run away from McGill, whose 84 in the seventh frame merely delayed his defeat.

Monday's latest UK qualifying results

- - -

Stream top snooker action live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

UK Championship

White turns back clock in whitewash victory at UK Championship

05/11/2022 at 13:10

UK Championship

How many matches has Hendry won since he returned?

04/11/2022 at 08:56