Snooker: Parrott close to World return

Jan 11 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL potter John Parrott is just one win away from qualifying for this season’s 888.com World Championship.

But while the 1991 Crucible champion eased to an impressive 10-3 victory over Gareth Coppack in the penultimate round of qualifying yesterday, Widnes cueman Andrew Higginson slipped to an 10-7 defeat to crowd favourite Jimmy White.

Parrott, who took on fellow BBC Sport pundit Steve Davis in last year’s World Championship, wasted little in establishing a healthy 8-0 lead over Ryhl’s Coppack at the Pontin’s Holiday Park in Prestatyn, North Wales.

And although his Wrexham-born opponent rallied to win a further two frames, it was Everton fan Parrott who earned himself a deserved place in the final qualifying round.

The 43-year-old, at No 42 in the provisional world rankings, faces Cambridgeshire cueman Joe Perry in early March at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

“I played really well, that’s a really good result for me,” reflected Parrott.

“Reaching the Crucible is the pinnacle of our sport and I’d love to get there again.”