King blows away the Whirlwind
Mark King ran out a comfortable 6-2 winner over wildcard Jimmy White at the 2010 Pokerstars.com Masters in Wembley.
The introductions were almost better than the match itself turned out to be. Mark King showed off a few dance steps to the delight of the audience. Don't give up the day job Mark!
The Wembley roof must be securely fixed as the rapturous welcome that greeted the entrance of Jimmy White, the Wembley crowd's favourite son, should have raised the rafters.
The crowd cheered every shot that White potted, but sadly for them and for White, the Whirlwind failed to find his best form as King took a scrappy opening frame.
King made 56 to start the second but lost position. Given another chance he missed the black off its spot and White clwed his way back to nick the frame on the black.
A run of 64 gave King a comfortable success in the third frame.
The fourth frame was all about drama and lots of ooh's and aah's. King made 56 but lost position. White countered with 38, but in the process knocked the blue to the top cushion and it was the blue that brought his revival to an end as it refused to drop. King ultimately sank blue and pink to open a 3-1 lead.
A miscue by King on his safety in the fifth gave White the chance to fashion a run of 48. King missed another red and White closed the gap to one frame.
Any hopes harboured by his adoring fans that this was the start of a White revival proved short-lived. King punched in 56 to open a two frame buffer again.
White had a good chance in the seventh frame but he missed the black from the spot on 25 and was punished by a frame winning 85 from King.
The tension mounted during a long safety exchange in frame eight. The error came from White and King made 38.
That wasn't enough to win the frame but despite a desparate rearguard fight by White when King sank the yellow it put him 25 up with 25 on and he left white inn a tight Snooker. King duly added brown and blue to put the match beyond doubt and earn his place in the first round proper.
