White nears Whitewash
There were contrasting fortunes for two of snooker’s elder statesmen today, as Jimmy White and Steve Davis both kicked off their Travis Perkins UK Championship campaigns in York.
Despite being the number nine seed, it was of little surprise that 43-year-old White trailed rising star Ding Junhui, the only shock being White’s failure to make an impression on the scoreboard.
A near faultless display of potting meant Ding went into tonight’s final session leading 8-0, needing just one more to set up a third-round clash with Paul Hunter.
York is becoming something of an unhappy hunting ground for White, who after trailing 7-0 to Ali Carter at the same stage last year, withdrew from the tournament citing illness.
Six-time world champion Davis was faring somewhat better than his veteran counterpart in his clash with World Amateur champion Mark Allen.
Despite the 19-year-old Allen signalling his intent with early contributions of 78 and 89, Davis persevered and eventually closed out the session with three straight frames to open up a two-frame lead at 5-3.
In the morning’s other clash, promising Australian Neil Robertson managed to pull clear of the number 11 seed Stephen Lee, the left-hander also 5-3 ahead.
