White out of Malta
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ByEurosport
Published 03/11/2006 at 12:20 GMT
Jimmy White let slip a 3-1 lead as he bowed out of qualification for the Malta Cup with defeat against Andrew Higginson. White, who has dropped to 51st in the rankings, has yet to qualify for a world ranking tournament this year.
2006, Jimmy White china open 2006
Image credit: Imago
Higginson won four frames on the trot and then beat David Gray 5-4 to reach the televised stages of the tournament in January.
Last week's Grand Prix finalist Jamie Cope was brought back to earth with a 5-2 defeat to up-and-coming Chinese player Tian Pengfei.
Cope made just one break over 50 - a 72 in the third frame - as teenager Tian eased to victory with a top run of 100.
"After what happened last week I found it difficult to prepare for today's match and my concentration wasn't there," admitted the 21-year-old Cope.
"Nothing happened for me. I'm planning to take some time off now and make sure I'm ready for the UK Championship qualifiers."
But Tian lost 5-3 to 1998 World Championship runner-up Nigel Bond to miss out on the final 32.
However there were no such problems for compatriot Ding Junhui, the provisional world number four beating Dave Harold 5-3.
David Roe, Fergal O'Brien, Mark King, Ryan Day, Robert Milkins, Marcus Campbell, Rod Lawler, Marco Fu, Ricky Walden, Michael Judge, Tom Ford and Jimmy Michie also reached the televised stages.
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