White on verge of glory after composed display (original) (raw)

JIMMY WHITE withstood an inspired comeback from a fellow lover of full-throttle play to beat Tony Drago, the local hero, 6-4 in an enthralling semi-final of the European Open here at the Portomoso Hilton last night. He now plays Stephen Maguire and will be a strong favourite to win his first world-ranking event since the 1992 United Kingdom Championship.

In January, Steve Davis, 46, evoked memories of his heyday by appearing in the final of the Welsh Open and White, 41, struck another unlikely blow for the older generation to send a partisan crowd home disappointed. “Now I know what the guys who play me at Wembley feel like,” White said.

Feeding off Drago’s early vulnerability, White prospered. He compiled a break of 104 in the sixth frame to lead 5-1 but missed a straightforward red in the seventh and Drago suddenly engaged top gear. He stepped in with a run of 84 and, confidence restored, swiftly added contributions of 44 and 109 to account for the next two frames in just 15 minutes.

White has often suffered bitter disappointments after being on the verge of important results but, on this occasion, his poise under pressure could not be faulted. By delicately manipulating half a chance into a break of 86 he crossed the winning line in style to ensure his first appearance in a final since the British Open in 2000.

“I’m well pleased but I’m not thinking too far ahead. I’ve got to keep punching. I’ve still got a tough job to do,” White, an overwhelming favourite to collect the £48,000 first prize today, said. Maguire, the world No 41, will be making his debut in a final and was not born when White turned professional 23 years ago.

Given that the overall standard of snooker at the highest level these days is usually of such a high calibre, the other semi-final came as a shock to the system. Maguire beat Stephen Lee 6-4 after a four-hour marathon riddled with elementary errors by both players from start to merciful finish.

The blood-red colour of Lee’s chubby cheeks told their own story — he was fuming. “I just blew up. When you’re as poor as that you get into such a state of mind that you can’t think straight. I’ve got through to the semi-finals and suddenly I find I’ve got no game,” he said.