Jack Lisowski reckons he will play snooker until he is a pensioner – after being inspired by veteran Jimmy White.
World No12 Lisowski kept his hopes of finally winning a major title alive by ending the German Masters dreams of a 60-year-old Whirlwind. People’s Champion White had been looking to become the first player over 60 to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking event for 44 years in Berlin.
But world No88 White, 60, fell to a 5-2 defeat after leading 2-0 and after squandering chances to win other frames as Lisowski reeled off five frames in a row. But Lisowski, 31, who has laboured for several years under the tag of best player never to win one of the big events, is in awe of White’s enthusiasm after 43 years on tour.
‘Jackpot’ now takes on China’s Xiao Guodong in the quarter-finals hoping to take advantage of a field shorn of top-16 players through qualifying defeats, suspensions and withdrawals. He said: “I can see myself playing until I am 60 after seeing what Jimmy has done – he has shown us all the way. He still looks good when he is on it, and his results this season are good.
“People didn’t thin k it was possible to compete at that age, but he looks like he could go on for another five years. I think I am going to try and play until I am a pensioner. Snooker has given me a good life and I enjoy everything about it, including the tournaments and the build-up.
“If I am still enjoying it and can make a bit of money, then why not. But Jimmy has broken down the barriers. A few years ago we didn’t think you could really play into your 40s. It was a bit sad at the end, Jimmy gets so much support and it is great seeing him doing well. He has always been so kind to me in my career so I am not going to celebrate beating him.
“But I have my target and that is clear. I want to win the tournament, anything else is a disappointment, three more wins and I can shit everyone up. And this was a good test with a lot of distractions even though I didn’t play my best.
“He put me under a lot of pressure at the start and if he goes 3-1 at the interval it could have been very different. But getting out at 2-2 kept me in it, I was lucky to survive that.” Meanwhile Neil Robertson prays he has seen the back of the viruses that plagued the first half of his season.
Robertson, who beat Joe Perry 5-3 and is chasing a first German Masters title, said: “It is nice to be 100 per cent fit for once. The UK Championship was hard, and the Masters any other event and I would have pulled out.
“And the World Grand Prix was also very tough, I was still recovering from the flu."
FREE £2 shop bet in WIlliam Hill shops with this Saturday's Daily Mirror. Don't miss your chance for a free flutter on the weekend's action, valid on all sport including horse racing!
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/free-2-shop-bet-william-28752327
