Watch: Jimmy White reacts angrily to crowd after missed shot during 2026 World Championship qualifier with Gao Yang

Jimmy White has famously never won the World Championship despite his lengthy career and remarkable talent. White, who lost six Crucible finals, took a 5-4 lead over Gao Yang in his first-round qualifier on Monday. However, crowd favourite White gestured angrily to someone in the crowd after missing a shot in the fifth frame.

'Maybe they've moved behind the pocket' - White gestures angrily at crowd after missed red

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jimmy White reacted angrily to someone in the crowd during his first-round qualifier against Gao Yang at the World Championship.

White continues to stay on the professional circuit at the age of 63, and he started brightly in the first qualifying round of this year’s tournament.

Amid the tension in Sheffield, crowd favourite White appeared to gesture to an unidentified member of the audience, perhaps suggesting that a spectator had put him off mid-stroke, causing the miss.

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At 3-1 up, White lined up a red which, at 52-9 up already, could have helped propel him to a frame win to move three clear of Gao.

He aimed to sink the red into the left middle as he faced the top of the table, but was only able to clip the jaw and the ball reversed back towards him off the cushion.

It was not clear what upset White, but he cut a frustrated figure shortly after as he made his way back to his chair as his opponent moved to start his own break.

The veteran appeared to gesture to an unidentified member of the crowd, perhaps suggesting that a spectator had put him off mid-stroke, causing the miss.

From the commentary box, Joe Johnson exclaimed: ”What a miss, what a miss. How important is it going to be?”

Fortunately for White, he was able to secure the frame 89-35 and go 4-1 up against Gao.

'I love this game' - White channels Evra

Earlier in the match, at 2-1 up against Gao, in the early stages of the fourth frame, White lined up a long pink, dancing around the reds with the cue ball after he sent the colour to the yellow pocket with an accuracy recalling his best years.

With 11 reds remaining, it felt almost certain that he would land on at least one, giving him the chance to develop a break and extend his lead over his Chinese opponent.

Instead, there was nothing on for the Englishman, and he recalled former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra’s catchphrase, sarcastically uttering, ”I love this game.”

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Video credit: TNT Sports

However, White is risking more World Championship heartbreak. He famously has yet to lift the trophy over the years despite some agonising near-misses.

While few see him as a genuine contender any more, an appearance in the tournament proper can never be ruled out.

White moved 5-1 up over Gao, but saw his lead slip to 5-4 ahead of the conclusion of the match on Monday night.

Qualifying for the 2026 World Championship takes place between April 6-15, and is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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