Whirlwind Returns: Jimmy White Faces Rising Star O’Sullivan as China Open Qualifying Kicks Off
Jimmy White is set to kick off his 2026/27 snooker season against fellow Londoner Sean O’Sullivan in the first round of China Open qualifying in Leicester. White, a six-time Crucible finalist, will face O’Sullivan, who recently regained his tour card with a 4-2 victory over Joshua Thomond at Q School.
O’Sullivan, 32, from Whitechapel, reached a career-high ranking of world No. 73 in 2016 but has struggled to maintain his place on the main tour over the past decade. Notably, he recorded a maximum break in a 5-2 defeat to Barry Hawkins during the 2023 European Masters—a tournament Hawkins went on to win, defeating world No. 1 Judd Trump 9-6 in the final.
The China Open is returning to the main snooker calendar after a seven-year hiatus, with four qualifying rounds taking place at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena between June 10-14. The main event is scheduled for Taiyuan from August 8-16. White will face O’Sullivan on Wednesday, June 10 at 14:30 UK time, while 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans will open her season against Alfie Davies at 19:30. Evans, denied a 13th world title in her recent final loss to Panchaya Channoi, is aiming to bounce back strongly.
All qualifying matches are contested over the best of 11 frames. Meanwhile, Wuhan Open qualifying also takes place in Leicester from June 15-18, with three rounds required to reach the main tournament set for August 23-29. White is drawn to play 20-year-old Jiang Jun in the first qualifying round, with the world’s top 16, including Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and new world champion Wu Yize, entering in the third round at the finals venue.
Chinese stars Xiao Guodong and Si Jiahui are aiming to continue their recent dominance, with Guodong seeking a third consecutive Wuhan Open title after narrow victories over Gary Wilson in 2025 and Si Jiahui in 2024.
The return of the China Open sees top players such as Ali Carter, Jack Lisowski, and Luca Brecel battling through Leicester qualifiers for a place at Taiyuan, promising an exciting start to the new snooker season.
