White Survives Stevens Rally to Reach Nanjing

Chalk dust hung in the shafts of light above the table, a fine white haze that settled on the polished wood. Jimmy White, sixty-four years old and the oldest player on the tour, leaned over the baize, his eyes narrowed against the glare. Across from him stood Matthew Stevens, a fellow veteran whose career mirrors his own in a long list of titles and near-misses. The 2026 International Championship qualifiers had narrowed down to this single, tense moment. White had built a lead, a comfortable five-to-two cushion, but the game of snooker is a cruel mistress that rarely lets a lead rest easy. The crowd in the qualifier hall was quiet, the silence broken only by the soft thud of balls colliding and the rhythmic scrape of cue tips against leather.

A Century Break Sets the Tone

White had controlled the early frames with a precision that belied his age. In the second frame, he struck a break of 104, a smooth run that cleared the table with mechanical grace. For a moment, the match felt like a formality, a coronation for the Londoner. But Stevens, known for his resilience, refused to fade into the background. The Welshman began to chip away at the lead, his shot selection becoming sharper, his safety play more aggressive. The momentum shifted, the noise in the room rising with each successful clearance. White’s lead evaporated frame by frame, the five-to-two advantage shrinking to a single frame’s difference. The tension in the room was palpable, a physical weight that pressed against the chests of those watching.

Stevens Forces the Decider

Then came the rally. Stevens compiled a break of 121, a massive strike that silenced the doubts in the air. He followed it with a 72, closing the gap to five-all. The match was now a coin flip, a single frame to determine who would advance. The air in the room grew heavy, the humidity rising as the two players wiped their hands on their shirts, the sweat a testament to the effort required to stay in the game. White’s face was set in a grimace of concentration, his breathing shallow and controlled. Stevens, on the other hand, looked energized, his movements fluid and confident. The final frame began with a tense safety exchange, each player trying to force the other into an error.

Two Chances to Seal the Win

Stevens took the first opportunity, potting a red and a green, but his cue ball drifted too far from the next target. He potted the red, but the black was a long, risky shot. He missed. The cue ball slid across the baize, stopping just inches from the black. White stepped up, his cue tip aligned with the white ball. He potted the red, then the black, his form perfect, his hands steady. The ball sank into the pocket with a soft click, the sound echoing in the quiet hall. He had won. He had survived. He would now face Mark Selby or Luo Zetao in the first round proper in Nanjing. The match was over, but the story of his career was far from finished.

According to SnookerHQ, the day’s results extended well beyond this dramatic finale. Neil Robertson, the world number three, dismantled Alexander Ursenbacher with a 6-0 whitewash, compiling two century breaks in the process. Barry Hawkins also posted a clean sweep over Oliver Sykes, while Stuart Bingham dropped just one frame to Alfie Burden. Kyren Wilson, however, found his path to victory much more arduous, salvaging a 6-5 win over Leone Crowley after a shaky start. Jak Jones continued his strong form with a 6-3 victory over Liam Pullen, adding another win to a season already marked by two ranking event titles. The qualifiers continued with a slate of heavyweights, including Mina Awad, who made history by beating Zak Surety 6-1 in only her second professional match. David Grace provided one of the day’s most spectacular performances, defeating Tom Ford 6-5 with the aid of three century breaks. The venue stages of the 2026 International Championship are set to run from October 31 to November 7 in Nanjing, China, where the remaining qualifiers will join the main draw.