Who is oldest snooker player to win a match on professional circuit after Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White sizzles at 64?
Published 11/06/2026 at 08:20 GMT+1
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Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White celebrated his 64th birthday last month, but the Tooting icon shows no signs of creaking in his record 47th straight year on the main World Snooker Tour.
White sinks sensational 112 against O'Sullivan in China Open qualifying
Video credit: TNT Sports
The evergreen six-time world finalist continues to play a mean white ball, judging by his brilliant 112 break on the opening day of the new 2026/27 season at China Open qualifying in Leicester.
It was all captured on TNT Sports and HBO Max as the former Masters and UK champion enjoyed a dominant 6-2 win over Sean O'Sullivan, a fellow Londoner, who is half White's age, in China Open qualifying in Mattioli Arena.
O'Sullivan had returned to the main tour with a 4-2 win over Joshua Thomond in the finals of event one at Q School last month.
The 32-year-old from Whitechapel was ranked as high as world No. 73 in 2016 but has struggled to keep his tour card over the past decade.
To put such astonishing longevity into perspective, he lost the last of his six world finals, 18-17 to Stephen Hendry in 1994, less than a week after O'Sullivan was born.
"I'm delighted with the win and I played well," said White, who could easily have been describing himself when he said snooker was in O'Sullivan's "blood".
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"I still love the game, and I have been working hard on the practice table.
"I'm happy to for Sean to be back on the tour because snooker is in his blood."
The China Open has returned to the main circuit after a seven-year absence, with four qualifying rounds being staged between June 10-14 at the city's Mattioli Arena.
White's next assignment is a match with local favourite Louis Heathcote on Thursday evening at 19:30 UK time in the second qualifying round.
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'Saved you some cake' - Murphy wishes Jimmy White happy birthday after semi-final win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Despite his timeless quality, White is still a relative novice compared to eight-time world champion Fred Davis, who won a match in September 1990 at the age of 77 years and 19 days, when he edged Tony Wilson 5-4 in the first round of qualifying for the 1991 Classic.
His 5-2 defeat to Rex Williams in the second round of the tournament saw a match for the ages completed between two players enjoying a combined age of 133.
Fred, the brother of 15-times world champion Joe Davis, lifted eight world titles between 1948 and 1956.
He lost 18-16 to Perrie Mans in the semi-finals in 1978 at the age of 64 after overcoming John Virgo 9-8, Dennis Taylor 13-9, and Patsy Fagan 13-10 in the second year of the modern event in Sheffield.
He downed Kirk Stevens 13-8 to reach the quarter-finals a year later before losing 13-4 to Australia's 'Steady' Eddie Charlton.
His final victory at the tournament over Stevens is one that has historic significance.
At the age of 65 and 217 days, Davis remains the oldest player to win a match at the Crucible.
He is also the oldest man to make a century at the Sheffield showpiece, piecing together a brilliant 109 effort in the sixth frame.
Fred Davis last played at the Crucible at the age of 70 in 1984, losing 10-4 to Bill Werbeniuk in the first round, but remarkably continued playing competitively for another decade.
He lost 5-1 to a teenage Ronnie O'Sullivan in attempting to qualify for the 1992 Grand Prix before finally retiring a year later at the age of 79. He died in 1998, but history has been kind to his legacy.
”The grand old man. Follow that. A wonderful break from Fred, there he is smiling all over his face," says commentator Jack Karnehm as Davis completed his memorable Crucible century in 1979.
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