Wins in Sheffield for White and Figueiredo
Jimmy White and Igor Figueiredo completed the quarter-final line-up at the 2021 ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship following their victories at the Crucible Theatre on Friday night.
Defending champion White remains on course for an unprecedented third consecutive world seniors championship title – and fourth overall – following a 3-0 win over friend Tony Knowles.
‘The Whirlwind’ claimed a scrappy opening frame before finding his rhythm in the second with a break of 72 to double his lead.
It looked like two-time ranking event winner and former world number two Knowles was going to get on the board at the end of a protracted third frame, but following an in-off, his opponent potted a long blue, a tricky pink into the middle and the black across the top cushion to seal progression.
White is undefeated at the Crucible in this championship with his winning streak now stretched to nine matches. He will face Darren Morgan on Saturday, in a rerun of the 2019 final.
“It was a bit of a struggle there but I think the excitement gets to us old boys when we come to the Crucible! Sometimes it’s hard to settle down but I was pleased to get a long blue in the end and finish it off” said White to Rob Walker after the contest.
“We both missed a few balls. I’ve known Tony for so many years; he’s a great player and if he had got going a little bit in the first frame when I missed so many then maybe it would be a different story but I’m pleased to get through.”
Figueiredo made history with his appearance by becoming the first South American to play a competitive match at snooker’s most iconic venue.
The Brazilian, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the professional event here last month, eliminated 1991 World Champion John Parrott 3-0.
Figueiredo settled himself by taking the opening frame, and after both players passed up good opportunities in frame two, he potted a long red and cleared up with a 39 clearance to move 2-0 ahead.
Parrott showed glimpses of the talent that won him nine world ranking titles but he was unable to sustain possession of the table and his opponent rounded off proceedings with a 41 clearance.
Figueiredo will meet idol Stephen Hendry in the quarter-finals. Patrick Wallace v Barry Pinches and David Lilley v Ken Doherty are the other best-of-seven frames matches on Saturday in Sheffield.
