White - crashed to defeat. (Getty Images)
LEE TAMES THE WHIRLWIND
Jimmy White's chances of becoming Embassy world champion for the first time
look as remote as ever.
The six times Crucible Theatre finalist suffered a second round knockout
against Stephen Lee on Saturday.
The Whirlwind, who celebrates his 41st birthday next month, led 10-7 early in
the final session.
But it was Lee, the world number seven from Trowbridge, who finished strongly
to claim six of the last seven frames and record a 13-11 win.
Lee, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals at Sheffield, now plays
Alan McManus or Marco Fu for a place in the last four of the £1.682 million
event.
It was an excellent performance by the 28-year-old Wiltshire star but the
result will not endear him to White's legions of fans.
Indeed, with the early demise of Ronnie O'Sullivan, another major crowd
puller has departed the tournament with 10 days to go.
At least official bookmakers Ladbrokes were smiling as a White world title
win would have cost them £400,000.
The only saving grace for White was that he is likely to keep his place in
the top 16 next season and will not need to qualify.
"I'll be back next year," smiled White after his latest Sheffield
disappointment.
"But I'm not very happy. I didn't score at all and it was
sickening.
"I think I won just three frames in one visit and that's just not good enough
at this level.
"I am pleased to get in the top 16 but really the draw is wide open and at
10-7 I fancied winning the match.
"I know you could be digging roads and I've only lost a snooker match but I'm
really sick at going out."
White began the final session with a 9-7 lead but managed only one
half-century in the last eight frames.
Lee, who compiled two century breaks during the first two sessions, was more
fluent although he was fortunate to take the lead at 11-10 after being behind
ever since the third frame.
White was on a break of 52 and looking to make it 11-10 in his favour but he
missed a routine black and Lee returned to the table to clear up to the pink
with 38.
White gained his only success in frame 22 after Lee had missed the final brown
towards the end of a marathon 38-minute frame.
The whirlwind had opportunities to prolong the contest but Lee held his nerve
to take his place in the quarter-finals.
"This season I have been practising too much on my own and I've not played
enough matches against other players," White added.
"That's something I'll be putting right for next season. If I was getting 40
tonight that was a result."
Lee, in the quarter-finals along with Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and
title-holder Peter Ebdon, said: "I didn't feel I was in the game until it went
10-10.
"I knew Jimmy wanted to win so much. But I need the ranking points and we
were fighting for every ball.
"It's hard for Jimmy because the crowd want him to do so well. But I just
tried to play the balls and not worry about anything else."
On the adjoining table Glaswegian Graeme Dott carved out a surprise 6-2 lead
over 1997 world champion Ken Doherty.
The world number 12, making only his fourth appearance at the Crucible, has
never been beyond the last 16. However, if he can add seven of the remaining 17
frames he will break new ground when the match concludes on Monday afternoon.
Dott led 3-0 with a top break of just 40 and after world number five Doherty
pinched frame four with a 26-clearance, the Scot notched three more frames to
move 6-1 clear.
Doherty scored just seven points as Dott replied with runs of 58, 67 and 80.
Crucially for the Irishman he scrapped his way to success in the last frame of
the night but he still has work to do when the game resumes .
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