Jimmy White remains one of the most iconic figures in snooker history. Nicknamed ‘The Whirlwind,’ White has graced the professional tour for more than 40 years.
He famously reached six World Championship finals without lifting the trophy – four times losing to his formidable Scottish opponent, Stephen Hendry. Interestingly, White didn’t find Hendry particularly aggravating, as he explained to Ally McCoist on Snooker Breakdown for TNT Sport: “For me, Hendry had the mettle and determination.
“Then Ronnie came along, took a bit from all the great players, and with his natural talent, he became the ultra-winning machine. Ronnie O’Sullivan, for me, plays snooker in the most serious times of matches as if he’s just practising.
“Hendry was a bit like that, he was in his own bubble. I’d play Hendry, he’d have none of the crowd, but it didn’t bother him. He was so focused.”
He then turned his attention to long-time rival Steve Davis. “I think with Davis he had that smirk, you wanted to hit him across the head with the cue,” White admitted. “But he was so good.”
Davis dominated the sport during his prime, sitting atop the rankings for seven years running and collecting 28 ranking championships, which places him fifth in career total wins.
In the 1980s, Davis and White formed a memorable rivalry, with their contrasting personalities – both at the table and away from it – captivating fans.
Speaking on the Snooker Break podcast, White said: “I quite liked it, me and Steve Davis, I was sort of wasting my time partying and he was practicing, so I never had any problems with Steve.
“But you knew, if you were playing Steve Davis, you were going to be in a war. I had a rivalry with him that lasted for five or six years, and I think it was quite healthy for the game.”
White continues to pursue competitive success, having just made it through the first of four tough qualifying rounds in his attempt to return to the Crucible this month. Meanwhile, Davis has spoken warmly of White’s persistence, having said: “For Jimmy to be competing and beating some of the top players in the world on a weekly basis is just fantastic. Long may it continue.
“He knows full well he can have a really good match and then the next time it might not quite work, and that’s the frustration. You know you can produce it every now and again, but consistency is the problem as you get older. When he manages to put it together it’s fantastic to watch.”
O’Sullivan, appearing with White on the TNT broadcast, echoed those sentiments and praised his influence: “Jimmy was the first player I was inspired by, the most exciting player there was.”
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