BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | Benson and Hedges Masters

BBC Sport's Clive Everton reflects on Jimmy White's quarter-final defeat to nemesis Stephen Hendry.

When Jimmy White won the 1984 Benson and Hedges Masters no one seriously imagined that he would never win it again, but, at 38, after 20 consecutive years of participation, this sadly seems a distinct probability.

Stephen hendry, who had four times beaten White in winning his six Masters titles, added to the long list of disappointments he has inflicted upon him by beating him again, 6-4 in the quarter-final at Wembley on Friday, his 23 victory in their 34 meetings.

Add to this his four defeats by Hendry in World finals and there must be some force to White's quip after the fourth, "he's beginning to annoy me."

Jimmy White
White was unable to finish off promising positions
The two most agonising defeats were 18-14 in their 1992 final after leading 14-8 and 18-17 in 1994 when a routine black from it's spot eluded him within a few pots of fulfilling his life's ambition.

Plagued by a succession of personal problems from bereavement to bankruptcy to testicular cancer with self-confessed drinking and gambling problems for good measure, his talent was in tatters for a few years.

But in the last couple of seasons he has stitched it together again, less excess has lead to more success, though not as much, perhaps, as his raw talent had promised.

He started this season promisingly, reaching the final of the British Open and the semi-final of the Grand Prix. He lost momentum but seemed to be picking it up again in his first two wins at Wembley, rounding off his defeats of Joe Swail and Ronnie O'Sullivan with breaks of 136 and 117 respectively.

The hopes of his army of loyal supporters were high as he tackled Hnesry, but after leading 3-1 he simply made too many unforced errors, either in potting or positional play.

Hendry made his share of mistakes too but nevertheless triumphed, twice winning frames in single scoring visits with breaks of 99 and 113.

From 3-1 down, he recovered with frame-clinchers of 45 and 64 as White's two highest breaks, both of 51, ended prematurely when he could have made them into frame winners.

Stephen Hendry
Hendry now faces Paul Hunter
All but a handful of White's supporters behaved impeccably. They were vociferous in their support but giving both players pin-drop silence when they were down on their shots.

The two exceptions to this occurred in what proved to be the last frame. They caused Hendry to make two elementary errors.

But, fiercely determined, he took full advantage of an unexpected White breakdown by clearing to the pink with 44 for frame and match.

Hendry continues his pursuit of his first title in 17 months in Saturday afternoon's semi-final against Paul Hunter.

Dave Harold, following his epic recovery from 5-1 down to beat John Parrott on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame, will play Fergal O'Brien, who defeated fellow Dubliner Ken Doherty 6-2, in the evening semi-final.