White closes on clash with O'Sullivan at World Open
WORLD OPEN Venue: SECC, Glasgow Dates: 18-26 September Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only); Listen on BBC Radio 5 live for regular updates; Comprehensive reports on the BBC Sport website & mobiles
'Whirlwind' White wraps up Davison win
Jimmy White kept alive the possibility of a fourth-round clash against Ronnie O'Sullivan with a 3-1 win over Paul Davison at the World Open in Glasgow.
O'Sullivan faces Mark King on Monday, with White waiting to play the winner.
Former world champions Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams enjoyed comfortable 3-0 wins at the first televised stage.
Hendry hit breaks of 55 and 76 as he beat Belgian Bjorn Haneveer, while Williams made runs of 80 and 96 to beat Brazil's Igor Figueiredo in 38 minutes.
Despite Londoner White's victory, one of the most talented players in snooker's history insisted that he must improve quickly to have any chance of going further in the competition.
"I've being doing a little bit [of preparation] with Ray Reardon and he will have a right pop at me," White told BBC Sport.
"I lost my head a bit, I lost a bit of focus - and this is what you just can't do. Maybe my experience has wandered a bit because I haven't been involved too much [in recent years]."
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Hendry, who will play Mark Davis in the last 32, professed himself happy with his form.
"To win 3-0 is all you can ask for," he said. "The drive here took longer than the match and it's nice to come through unscathed."
Williams, who plays Ali Carter next, said: "I won in about 40 minutes but I could lose in the same time against Ali. I think there will be a lot of surprises in this tournament."
In Sunday's final match, Barry Hawkins set up a fourth-round clash with former world champion Ken Doherty by beating Mark Selby 3-2.
Hawkins hits 127 to see off Selby
Selby took the first frame on a re-spotted black after a break of 46 by Hawkins levelled matters at 54-54.
The pressure clearance seemed to inspire the underdog, though, and he followed it up with a 127 break to level the match.
They also shared the next two frames before Selby had a chance to pinch the decider.
He broke down though and allowed Hawkins to steal in and clear the colours he required for victory.
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