Snooker: ‘Pot idol' White sets sights on final

If votes were cast for a snooker idol then ‘people’s champion’ Jimmy White would top most polls.

As Gareth Gates and Will Young go head to head in the final of Pop Idol tonight, White and Mark Williams shoot it out at Wembley Conference Centre for a place in the Benson and Hedges Masters final.

White will win this particular popularity contest hands down a verdict Williams agrees is a formality.

‘‘I’m not bothered about the crowd,’’ says the world number one who completed the semi-final line up last night with his 6-4 victory over Stephen Hendry.

‘‘I’m looking forward to the match. I know at least six people who will want me to win because I’ve got some friends and family coming down.

‘‘As long as the crowd don’t start calling out on the shot I don’t mind. It just puts more pressure on Jimmy.’’

Williams is confident of meeting holder Paul Hunter or Alan McManus in the final and hopes Will completes a double with victory in Pop Idol.

‘‘I won’t be able to watch the final now,’’ he said after ending Hendry’s interest in the tournament for another year.

‘‘I’ve been voting for Will for months now. I was even thinking of wearing one of those Will masks on the back of my waistcoat.

‘‘I guess I’ll have to tape it now,’’ quipped Williams, who has the ideal temperament not to be fazed by another huge crowd at the Conference Centre.

Over 3,800 watched yesterday’s two matches and Williams and Hunter will start favourites to contest the penultimate Benson and Hedges Masters final.

But as Ronnie O’Sullivan found to his cost being favourite doesn’t always count for everything.

White produced one of his finest comebacks for years to recover a 5-2 deficit to beat the world champion 6-5.

‘‘I was getting frustrated because I should have been 3-1 and 5-2 up,’’ admitted the 39-year-old Londoner.

‘‘Ronnie was making errors he doesn’t normally make and I wasn’t taking advantage. But how many times have I played brilliantly and lost?

‘‘I just want to win so badly. I want to still be able to show my skills.’’

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and actor Terence Stamp were among 2,500 people yesterday who saw White’s unlikely revival.

O’Sullivan, tipped by snooker legend Steve Davis and the Rocket’s former manager Ian Doyle to cruise through to the last four, was not in the best of spirits.

‘‘I’m really upset I got beaten. I’m angry, very angry. It had nothing to do with losing the game.

‘‘It’s something I have got to deal with mentally but it’s not something I want to air in the press.’’

Hunter and McManus have had a day to recharge their batteries before doing battle this afternoon.

And it’s been a rest McManus needed. He revealed: ‘‘I went ice skating for the first time earlier this week and I’ve got blisters on my feet and my bones are aching.

‘‘At least I know I can’t play as badly again as I did against Fergal O’Brien in my last match.’’

Hunter has progressed without being put under pressure. He is two games from becoming the first champion to defend the title since Stephen Hendry in 1993.