YOUTH beat experience as Jimmy White failed to get past the qualifying stage of the UK Snooker Championship.
White, 63, was beaten by next-gen star Michal Szubarczyk, who is still only 14.
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Jimmy White lost to Michal Szubarczyk in UK Snooker Championship qualifyingCredit: Getty
The 63-year-old was beaten by his 14-year-old opponentCredit: Getty
The Polish wonderkid cruised to a 6-2 win in Leeds and ended White’s chances of making history before they really began.
White himself won the competition in 1992, almost 20 years before his opponent on Saturday was even born.
In fact, Szubarczyk is young enough to be one of his grandchildren.
White has nine of those through his son Tommy and two daughters Lauren and Leah.
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The most famous is Ralphie Albert, who has been capped at Under-19 level by England’s cricket team.
The all-rounder took 6-53 in a youth Test match against India earlier this year as a 17-year-old.
Szubarczyk is three years younger than that but could easily pass as another grandkid, such is his age.
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He is still in the infancy of his snooker career having only recently turned pro.
Ranked as world No101, Szubarczyk won the EBSA Under-16 and Under-18 Championship playing up several years before being beaten in the final of the main tournament.
He is a former Polish Under-18 and Under-21 champ too. In 2025 he competed in the World Snooker Championship qualifiers.
As for White, he was extended an invitational card for the UK event but is more commonly seen on the senior tour.
He is a four-time Senior World Champion and last won the event in 2023.
At 63, he is already 16 years older than Ronnie O’Sullivan was when he set the record for being the oldest player to win the UK Championship.
The Rocket did so aged 47 (two days before his birthday) in December 2023.
Speaking to SunSport, White explained his motivation for playing despite struggling mentally.
He said: “I’ve still got the hunger.
“For 25 years, I was dragging myself from A to B because I was such a big drinker.
“I wasn’t really focused at all. Now I’m sober and I’m playing all the time. I know that if I put in plenty of practice, I can still perform.
“My game is still as good as it’s ever been. It’s actually probably better than it was before.
“I’ve had all the sports psychologists. At the end of the day, it’s down to you.
“In sport, I’ll be playing in a match, I’m in the balls all perfect, and a voice will say to me: ‘Did you water the plants before you left home?’ I’m like, ‘who’s that?’
“So, I’ve got you trying to beat me, I’ve got the audience watching on TV, it’s one of the most difficult games in the world, and I’m having this concentration issue.
“So, I’m not concerned about that. I was 10 years ago, and I thought I couldn’t play anymore.
“If I didn’t think I could win, I wouldn’t play anymore. I still have that desire to play.
“People go to me, ‘why do you torture yourself?’ It’s the travelling I don’t like.”
White has been playing on the tour three times longer than Szubarczyk has been aliveCredit: Getty
Age overcame experience in Leeds, though
White has been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) but admitted before playing Szubarczyk he would have no shame in losing.
He said: “Listen, there are 14-year-olds in China making 147s regularly.
“When I first made a century, when I was 13, it was in the national newspaper. It was unbelievable.
“Sport moves on. It’s like everything else. Look at the stats in darts. Look how fast footballers are now.”
Szubarczyk himself was not being fazed, saying: “When I got into the Tour and talked with my dad about who I’d love to face, he [White] was one of the first names on the list.
“I definitely have to be careful with him because he has a huge experience — he’s been playing professionally for three times longer than I’ve been alive.”
As for White’s grandson, Albert, he also played in Surrey’s final County Championship game of the season away at Hampshire, hitting 96 in his first innings.
He has been part of the Surrey pathway since being spotted at Under-9s but is not fazed by his family connection to White.
He told BBC: “I wouldn’t say there’s a need to prove myself.
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“I don’t see what is being said. There are articles talking about us but I’m not deep into the comparison or making a name for myself.
“I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens.”
Albert has been capped at age-group level by EnglandCredit: Getty
He made his senior Surrey debut earlier this yearCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
