Jimmy White begins hectic schedule with defeat in Shenzhen Open snooker qualifying to Fan Zhengyi as Michael Holt misses second 147 of season
By Desmond Kane
Updated 21/07/2026 at 10:31 GMT+1
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Jimmy White made a losing start in a week that will see him play three qualifying matches in Leicester, with Fan Zhengyi proving too strong in a 5-1 win that secured him a trip to China to face defending champion Mark Williams in the first round of the Shenzhen Open.
White sinks sensational 112 against O'Sullivan in China Open qualifying
Video credit: TNT Sports
The six-time Crucible finalist had no answer to Fan's scoring prowess as the former European Masters holder produced breaks of 63, 119, 73 and 69 to reach the last 64.
Williams claimed the title last year when the tournament was known as the Xi'an Grand Prix, the Welshman becoming the oldest ranking event winner at the age of 50 with a 10-3 final win over Shaun Murphy.
The new Shenzhen Open takes place between Monday, September 28 to October 4, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
White, who was given a 5-0 walkover after Ian Burns withdrew on Sunday, will quickly have to put his disappointment to one side with another two key matches to come this week at the city's Mattioli Arena.
He is due to face Sean O'Sullivan in a British Open qualifier on Friday night before confronting Cheung Ka Wai in his tournament opener at the English Open on Saturday afternoon.
The winner of that match will need to overcome the talented Chang Bingyu in the second qualifying round to book a trip to Brentwood.
The English Open is the first Home Nations tournament of the new campaign and is set to be staged between September 7 and 13, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, with Mark Allen defending the trophy.
Meanwhile, Michael Holt almost celebrated a second 147 of the campaign in his opening qualifier at the Shenzhen Open.
The Nottingham man missed the 13th red on a maximum attempt against Ross Muir in the opening frame that ended on 96 in a 5-4 win for Holt after the due were forced to return to conclude their decider.
Former Shoot Out winner Holt had made his first competitive 147 in the third frame of a 6-1 win over Mark Joyce during China Open qualifying last month.
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'Unexpectedly one-sided' - Williams seals emphatic victory over Murphy to create history
Video credit: TNT Sports
Elsewhere on Monday, Marco Fu won his local Hong Kong derby match with three-time women's world champion Ng On Yee in the Shenzhen Open as runs of 124, 117 and 60 secured him a 5-1 win and a meeting with a local wildcard in China.
The first major event of the season gets underway at the Shanghai Masters on Monday, July 27, with the final scheduled for Sunday, August 2.
Kyren Wilson is defending the title in the quest for the ÂŁ210,000 first prize.
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