Jimmy White "produced when it mattered" to defeat Ireland's Fergal O'Brien for a place in the Travis Perkins UK Championship quarter-finals at York tonight.
O'Brien sent shockwaves round York's Barbican Centre last Saturday by becoming the first player in five years to beat Mark Williams in the latter's opening match of a ranking tournament.
But the dogged Dubliner found 41-year-old White a tougher proposition than the defending champion. After O'Brien recovered from 7-5 down to level at 7-7, White made breaks of 113 and 65 to seal the match.
White now plays former British Open champion Nigel Bond for a place in the last four.
"Jimmy played two good frames at the end," O'Brien said. "But I've enjoyed the tournament. I just needed a bit of rub of the green at the end and didn't get it. But that's the way it goes at times."
Matthew Stevens beat James Wattana 9-6 and plays Paul Hunter in the quarter-finals.
PA