World Championship 2025: Jimmy White likely to be offered new tour card despite qualifying defeat to Ashley Carty
Updated 12/04/2025 at 10:21 GMT+1
Jimmy White is in line to extend his golden career despite suffering dejection in his latest bid to return to the main stage at the World Championship. White lost 10-5 to Ashley Carty in the second round of qualifying at the English Institute of Sport on Friday. The six-time Crucible runner-up has dropped to 93 in the latest provisional world rankings, but should earn a new two-year tour card.
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Jimmy White suffered disappointment in his latest World Championship qualifying bid as he crashed out in the second round 10-5 to Ashley Carty on Friday night.
The six-time world finalist, who had trailed Anton Kazakov 7-3 before winning 10-9 in round one, fell 6-1 behind against Carty and could not stage a recovery at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Carty top scored with a break of 103 and also compiled four 50-plus breaks to hold off White, who managed to close the gap to 8-5 with a knock of 89 before his opponent won the final two frames to complete his progress.
White, who turned professional in 1980, last appeared at the Crucible when he lost 10-5 to David Gray in the first round in 2006.
While world No. 67 Carty progresses to a meeting with Pang Junxu in the third qualifying round, White must wait to hear if he will be offered a new invite to compete on the main professional circuit next season.
There is every chance he will receive a two-year wildcard despite dropping to 93 in the latest end-of-season provisional world rankings due to his commitment to the game.
White was first offered an invite by former World Snooker Tour chair Barry Hearn in 2016 for "his outstanding contribution to the sport".
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"I got mine on merit the last couple of years," said White after reaching the last 32 of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast earlier this season.
"Barry did say to me, what I’ve done for the game, as long as I keep playing in all of the events, then I’ll keep getting the wildcard.
"I enjoy practising, enjoy doing exhibitions, enjoy entertaining.
"I still make 147s and now and again I have a little buzz where I can beat anybody."
Meanwhile, former German Masters winner Anthony Hamilton almost blew a 9-0 lead against Steven Hallworth before scrambling over the line to complete a 10-8 victory.
Hallworth had led 63-0 in the 18th frame, but Hamilton produced a 67 clearance to seal his win on the final black.
"That’s as hard as trying to get over the line in a ranking final," he told reporters.
"It’s a story that would follow you round for the rest of your life. If you lose from 9-0, you’re on quizzes and stuff. You don’t want that."
Hamilton, who is battling to retain his place on the main circuit, will face Matthew Selt in the third qualifying round on Sunday and Monday.
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