Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 6-3 Jimmy White - Un-Nooh didn't end up winning at that visit after missing a red to the middle, but the Whirlwind just couldn't get his own red to fall in the middle either, allowing Un-Nooh back in to pick up the pieces and clinch victory. He really is in excellent scoring form at the moment and is a danger in this draw if he keeps playing like that. If he ever did cut out the odd sloppy error that gets punished against the higher ranked players then he could still make that breakthrough and win a ranking event. For White it's still great to see the passion he has for the game. With the frustration he showed tonight, it's clear he still wants to win every game and it's equally as a good to see he draws such a crowd. People were turned away at the start of the match because the sports hall was full. That sums up Jimmy White and his army of fans.
Frame 9 - A couple of misses from White has allowed Thepchaiya a couple of early chances and after laying a snooker behind the black he has the chance that he needs to close this match out. I don't think there's much life left in this match now.
Frame Thepchaiya - Another rapid contribution from the Thai and another clearance. He's making more clearances than a football defender tonight. This time he gets there with the aid of a fluke on the black once the frame was in the bag and he's fully punished White with a break of 110. He's one away from round two. 5-3.
Frame 8 - White has had a decent opening in this frame after a long range miss from Thepchaiya but the Thai is in now after White missed into the right corner and he's looking good to go one away from the winning line.
Frame White - Just under 11 minutes from start to finish for that frame. The speed snooker continues and this time it's Jimmy White winning the frame at one visit. Thepchaiya's form seems to have inspired White and it's exhibition stuff. Tough to do it justice in words really. A brilliant break of 93 with a failed cannon spoiling the possible century that time. 4-3 still to Un-Nooh.
Frame 7 - White misses a long cut attempt and leaves it in the jaws but has it covered. Thepchaiya tries to come off the cushion to pot it but immediately knows he's missed it. White is taking advantage of that error so far.
Frame Thepchaiya - A decent chance quickly turned into another frame winning break. Absolutely relentless from Thepchaiya there and he'd reached snookers required after just 6 minutes in the frame. Hard to know how you stop him unless he misses an ambitious shot. Another great break and he's doubled his advantage. 4-2 Thepchaiya.
Frame 6 - Another excellent long pot from Thepchaiya gets him in first in the sixth and he's aggressively into the reds straight away to make this a decent early chance.
Frame Thepchaiya - Disappointing for White. An unforced error as he misses one into the middle but at his age now he's going to make the odd error like that. Un-Nooh picked up the pieces once again and with a clearance of 84 in no time at all he's back out in front and this match is flying by. 3-2 Thepchaiya.
Frame 5 - A great long pot from Thepchaiya screwing back for the blue gets him the first good chance of the frame but he soon misses a cut back red into the corner and leaves White in.
Frame White - It was always looking likely after the pack split but White has taken the fourth to level the match up at 2-2. He'll be disappointed to miss the black on 72 and miss out on a possible century break because all the reds were there for one. The fans aren't disappointed about the fightback though after losing the second the way he did.
Frame 4 - White's in first this time after Thepchaiya left a cut on a red to the middle and so far it's been solid from the Whirlwind. He's into the reds as he gets into the fifties and now this should be a level game.
Frame White - White missed a red early on initially to let Thepchaiya off but the Thai couldn't take advantage missing another ball in the middle. That allowed White back with a glorious chance and a break of 55, including some good pots on yellow and green to get the crowd going, puts him on the board. 2-1 now to Thepchaiya.
Frame 3 - There's not a lot that Un-Nooh doesn't take on, I thought he'd broken down a couple of times but a great mid-ranged red kept things going before he misses on 25 with an ambitious red to middle that didn't find the jaws. Thepchaiya has now missed again from range and White is in.
Frame Thepchaiya - Big frame that one. White initially breaks down on 54 after missing a red to middle. Thepchaiya then gets in with a good double and clears to the last red which he misses along the baulk cushion. White then wins the battle on the final red but misses the yellow off it's spot and Un-Nooh clears the colours to double his lead. 2-0.
Frame 2 - Thepchaiya was in first again but after splitting the bunch missed a red at pace into the middle leaving White in. He's up into the thirties and looking good to level.
Frame Thepchaiya - What a start for Un-Nooh. Hard to think of many players that make snooker look as effortless in full flow. As if no thought is required whatsoever. His second chance comes quickly and he has no problem clearing the table with a break of 81 to take the opener. 1-0 Thepchaiya.
Frame 1 - To absolutely no encouragement Thepchaiya is in first and it's tough to type fast enough to keep up with him. The break ends on 43 though as he loses position on a colour but it's a decent lead to have.
Still somewhat reeling from the shock exit of Shaun Murphy this afternoon tonight's match should put a smile back on my face. It won't be slow as Thepchaiya Un-Nooh takes on Jimmy White.
Thepchaiya was flying recently in Belfast making the quarter-finals and getting an incredibly emphatic 37 minute win in his last 16 match with Robbie Williams. At the English Open he made a 147 break and ended up losing to eventual champion Stuart Bingham by just the odd frame in the last 32.
As for Jimmy White it's magical for snooker that he's still playing. It's yet another UK Championship appearance and even if hasn't had as many wins as he would like I'm sure he still loves being out there. Really looking forward to this one.
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