From O’Sullivan to Higgins: The top 10 snooker shots of 2025
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Jimmy White will appear in the final of the British Seniors Open on Sunday afternoon in the same city that saw him claim the British Open title for a second time in the early 1990s. The six-time world finalist and TNT Sports analyst will take on ‘The Gentleman’ Joe Perry for the £20,000 first prize and handsome trophy at Vaillant Live in Derby after completing wins over 1997 world champion Ken Doherty (4-2) and recent Shoot Out winner Alfie Burden (5-3) to reach the title match.
White has fond memories of the East Midlands, having twice lifted the British Open at the old Assembly Rooms in Derby with wins over Neal Foulds (13-9) in 1987 and James Wattana (10-7) in 1992.
White’s run to the £75,000 winner’s cheque 33 years ago saw him defeat Cliff Thorburn (5-3), Mike Hallett (5-3), Darren Morgan (5-1), Terry Griffiths (5-3) and Steve Davis (9-8), before overcoming Wattana, who had produced the 11th competitive 147 of the modern era in a 5-1 win over Tony Drago earlier in the tournament.
The Assembly Rooms last hosted a ranking event final when John Higgins overcame Dave Harold 9-6 to win the Grand Prix in 1994.
‘What have you had for breakfast?’ – White dazzles with potting exhibition
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White looks to be in fine form this week, producing breaks of 79, 79, 59 and 95 as he came from 2-0 behind to defeat Burden after rolling in 58, 66 and 61 to end Doherty’s hopes.
At 63, the Tooting icon continues to perform well on the World Snooker Tour, but he will be facing an opponent in Perry who opted to retire from the main professional circuit after the World Championship qualifiers in April.
Perry has certainly looked the part over the past few days, producing wins over Stuart Bingham (4-0) and Matthew Stevens (5-3) – boosted by a sparkling 131 break in the sixth frame – to set up his meeting with White, who he first faced in the last 16 of the 2000 British Open in Plymouth.
White won that match 5-2, but their career head-to-heads are level on 4-4 with Perry completing a 4-1 win in the second round of last year’s English Open in Brentwood.
Late call-up Burden beats Bingham to Shoot Out crown – then stands on table!
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