Snooker / World Championship: White on his way

JIMMY WHITE completed a 10-6 victory over Billy Snaddon yesterday to reach the second round of the World Championship.

Resuming at the Crucible with a 6-3 advantage, White, who has yet to win a tournament this season, had to watch Snaddon compile the biggest break of the match, 137, and then level at 6-6. However, after Snaddon missed a yellow in the 13th frame White, who had breaks of 107, 112 and 99, swept through to victory.

'My safety was fine and I was scoring heavily in the balls,' said White, the world No 3, who showed signs of irritation with criticism of his play this season.

Dave Harold similarly led 6-3 overnight against David Roe, but found himself locked at 8-8 after the world No 16 reeled off five successive frames. Harold then produced decisive breaks of 92 and 78 to win an untidy match 10-8 and earn a second-round match against the present world champion, Stephen Hendry, who crushed Surinder Gill 10-1 on Saturday.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the 18- year-old who has made a major impact on the game over the past year, defeated Dennis Taylor 10-6, which means the former world champion will lose his top 16 ranking for the first time.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 31