Snooker legend Jimmy White’s hopes of playing at the Crucible this year came to a crashing end last night.

Jimmy White. Picture by Monique Limbos

The six-times World Championship finalist lost 10-5 to Joe Perry on Sunday meaning he won’t qualify for this year’s World Championship.

Perry now needs one more win to secure his place in the World Championship which starts on Saturday.

And another big result saw talented 18-year-old Yan Bingtao miss out on snooker’s blue ribbon event.

Bingtao, who reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open earlier this season, endured late night heartache after he suffered an agonising 10-9 defeat to Tian Pengfei.

Former world Championship finalist Matthew Stevens came from behind to beat Yuan Sijun via a final frame decider. Stevens is now one win away from reaching the Crucible for the first time in three years.

Graeme Dott, who became world champion in 2006, moved into the final qualifying round with a 10-2 win over Thailand’s Sunny Akani – the man who almost knocked out Ronnie O’Sullivan in the UK Championship last December.

The final qualifying round matches begin on Tuesday.