SNOOKER: BAIRD BREEZES PAST WHIRLWIND

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Created on Friday, 13 January 2012 18:25

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 January 2012 12:46

Published on Friday, 13 January 2012 18:26

Devon snooker ace Sam Baird beat Jimmy White 5-1 in the 2012 Haikou World Open qualifiers at the Academy, Sheffield to set up a morning meeting with world no 17 Mark Davis tomorrow (1000).

Baird, 23, from Stenhill near Cullompton admitted he is looking forward to meeting Davis – from Sussex - after despatching world no 47 White with breaks of 64, 113 and 82 in today’s third qualifying round.

Following his win over White, Baird said: “I have been playing well and was pleased with the fact that I overcame the thought of playing against Jimmy to play my own game. Besides he did not play great in the first few frames, I did not miss much and just got on with playing my game.

“In the end I was just pleased to get over the line, especially as in my previous – and only other – meeting with him, in Belgium, he won 4-2.

“Reaching the last 48 is my previous best and so I have equalled that and now want to see if I can go one better, but Mark is a top player and one that I have not played before.”

Baird is ranked 81 in the world list.

Gloucester’s world no 38 Rob Milkins made 80, 55, 82 and 79 in beating Sam Craigie 5-1 to set up tomorrow’s fourth qualifying round match against world 28 Ryan Day.

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