Snooker legend Jimmy White throws support behind junior qualifying event with surprise visit

Former UK and Masters Champion White popped in to the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Reading to watch the Global Pluto TV Snooker 900 Championship junior qualifying event which took place across Saturday and Sunday.

The inaugural Global Pluto Snooker 900 Championship will take place at the same Berkshire-based venue between 12-17 May and will be broadcast exclusively live on dedicated 24/7 snooker channel Pluto TV.

With a total prize fund of £100,000 - from which 25k will go to the eventual champion - the event will be played to ‘Snooker 900’ rules, with frames only able to last a maximum of 15 minutes (900 seconds, hence the name) and other quirky stipulations in place such as cueball-in-hand after foul shots.

The entry list will be an eclectic one, featuring big names from the professional circuit, legendary seniors, and top amateur cueists all mixing together on the table.

Following on from the success of the Crucible Cup held last November - won by Neil Robertson who defeated John Higgins in the final - this will be the biggest snooker competition held yet on Pluto TV, boasting serious star power for the six-day spectacular.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan - who has been an advocate for the Pluto Snooker brand since its launch last year - is set to play in it, as well as fellow former Crucible conquerors Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham.

White, Matthew Stevens, Reanne Evans, Joe Perry, and Tony Drago are also scheduled to be in the showcase.

Teenager Patel qualifies for main event in Reading

Lining up alongside these household names will be 17-year-old Englishman Kaylan Patel, who won the junior qualifying event in a thrilling finish.

Four tournaments and over 124 matches were played across the weekend in Reading, with O’Shay Scott, Nicholas Ayres, and Williams Hurley also winning events, but it was Patel who finished top of the standings to book his berth for the final stages in several weeks time.

Ten-time ranking event winner White - who has recently taken over a snooker club in Woking - spent time with the young cueists, posing for a photograph with 12-year-old Archie Greier who travelled over from Jersey to compete in the event.

Having not qualified for the ongoing World Open professional event in China, White has no doubt been putting practice time in for the 2026 World Snooker Championship qualifiers which break off at the English Institute of Sport in a few weeks time.

The last time White appeared at the Crucible Theatre for the sport’s blue riband event was in 2006, although he has returned to the iconic venue several times since, where he has won three of his record four world seniors championship titles.

But before his Sheffield outing for the qualifying gauntlet, the 63-year-old will be in competitive action next week (March 23-25) on Pluto TV in a Champions Week where he will compete against John Parrott, Reanne Evans, Ng On Yee, Rebecca Kenna, and reigning world billiards champion David Causier.

The six cueists will initially feature in a round robin format - all playing each other - before the top two qualify for the final where the overall title will be decided.