Jimmy White stunned man-of-the-season John Higgins 5-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the £250,000 European Open in Valletta today. The 39-year-old Londoner had not won a match since February before the tournament began. In contrast world number three Higgins headed to Malta having already won the Champions Cup, Regal Masters and Stan James British Open titles this season.
But the form-book counted for nothing as White produced one of his best performances in years to send the 1998 world champion packing. White is 16th in the latest provisional ranking list and needs every point he can muster to remain in the elite top 16.
White won a scrappy opener and pounced with a 62 clearance when Higgins missed a blue on 48 in the second. A run of 52 gave White the third before Higgins averted the whitewash by winning the last before the interval. Higgins then jawed the last red in the fifth and White cleared to the pink to lead 4-1 before clinching victory in the sixth when Higgins bungled a safety on the green.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
