White fails to take last step back to Crucible

The 50-year-old was beaten 10-5 by fellow Englishman Robert Milkins as he attempted to reach the main draw for the first time since 2006.

It was a crushing blow to White and his legion of fans, who packed out Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport badminton hall in the hope the ever-popular Londoner would book a place in today’s draw.

White had won two qualifiers to reach the final-round stage, but the player who made his debut in the World Championship in 1981 produced little of his former magic when it mattered most.

White said: “It is very disappointing after finding some form recently. We both struggled with the table, and there were a tremendous amount of kicks.

“I didn’t play well at all out there – if I had got to 9-7 I might have had a chance, but I got a kick on 66 or so, my highest break of the match.

“But I will still be going up to Sheffield to support Ronnie O’Sullivan.”

Down at No 57 in the world rankings, White found himself on the wrong end of a hiding, but was not the only big name to suffer.

Ireland’s former world champion Ken Doherty was dealt a heartbreaking defeat and will not be in the line-up for the tournament that begins next Saturday.

The 43-year-old Dubliner recovered from 9-4 behind and then 9-7 and 55-0 adrift to level his tussle with Matthew Selt at 9-9, forcing a deciding frame.

But that was where 1997 champion Doherty’s fightback ended, with Romford man Selt turning the screw to seal a 10-9 victory and a World Championship debut.

Selt, 28, said: “It (defeat) would have been catastrophic. Now it feels very, very good.”

Devon’s Sam Baird also qualified for the first time, the 24-year-old beating Cambridgeshire’s Joe Perry, a former World Championship semi-finalist, 10-3.

Scotland’s two-time former semi-finalist Alan McManus ended his seven-year wait for a Crucible return. The 42-year-old from Glasgow beat Leicester’s Tom Ford 10-5 and would love to be paired with defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round.

Sussex’s Mark Davis booked his place with a 10-6 win over Chinese left-hander Liang Wenbo, Erskine resident Marcus Campbell joined him with a 10-4 victory over Liam Highfield, and Welshman Dominic Dale was a 10-5 winner against London’s Alfie Burden.