White on cue · Issue 828

Jimmy White talks to Dave Menon about World Championship heartache, his current form and winning at poker

I can’t play snooker to save my life. My best ever break is an appalling eight, my cue action is unorthodox and most people laugh out loud at my facial expression when I try to play a shot.

However, despite my lack of any quality on a snooker table, I really enjoy watching the sport. Over the years, I have spent many an hour watching John Virgo attempt tough trick-shots on Big Break, while eagerly waiting for Noel’s House Party to begin. Remember those days.

But can you remember the day that Jimmy White became one of the most unlucky men in sport? 12 years ago (when I was only 10-years-old), White lost his sixth World Championship final against arch-nemesis Stephen Hendry in a deciding frame.

After getting this close to winning a world title for the first time ever, how did White approach that gut-wrenching, final frame?

“I just threw my cue at the black and twitched. I didn’t give it any thought, I didn’t gather any thoughts. At this stage, you’ve got to give every shot 100%. It was frustrating to lose but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

For some reason unknown to man, the Snooker World Championship has always eluded Jimmy White. On the flip side of the coin, Stephen Hendry has won the same tournament no fewer than seven times. It’s a tough world.

Nonetheless, White was refreshingly upbeat when I asked him to rate his chances of winning his first world title. He said: “If I didn’t think I could win it, I wouldn’t play.”

I’ve been working hard at my game and I’m pleased with my cue action, so it’s all looking good.”

And on his long-standing rivalry with Hendry, he added: “Well, I just ironed him out last week 5-1 to give me a chance of qualifying for the [Premier] league, so I’m not really concerned about him. I’m more concerned with concentrating on my game.”

Following this latest victory, White has consolidated his third-place position in the seven-man Betfred Premier League. He now must wait on other results to see if he reaches the semi-finals, by finishing in the top four.

Although White has never won a World Championship to date, he is commonly known as the “People’s Champion”. He may have had a shortage of luck, but the 44-year old Englishman will never have a lack of support.

However, White admitted that support is only helpful when it is coupled with good form. He added: “It is hard when you’re not producing good form. But when you’re producing, there’s nothing like it [support]. It’s probably the greatest thing in the world. But if you’re not playing well, it’s difficult to cope with.”

Jimmy is arguably one of the most colourful and flamboyant characters that has ever graced snooker. When I asked him what his most embarrassing moment was, he joked: “How long have you got?”

He added: “The most embarrassing one was when I went to a club after flying to Newcastle. I walked into the club and there was 1000 people there, who I thought had come to see me.

“But I soon discovered that they had gone to see Rod Stewart in person, and I was due to be there the following week.”

I met Jimmy last week at Rileys – a pool and snooker club situated on City Road. As part of his work for the company, the snooker ace travels up and down the country to challenge members to a game of snooker or pool.

After completing successive victories over three talented snooker players, a large number of supporters flocked to get autographs and pictures signed by their snooker hero.

Although White was kept busy for most of the night, he never stopped smiling throughout. The “Whirlwind” appeared to be a man that was thoroughly enjoying himself. During one of his snooker matches, the Englishman cheekily remarked “not recently” after compiling a break that reached 69.

Shortly afterwards, I couldn’t resist the temptation to ask Jimmy when he had last made a 69. He laughed before responding: “It was a long eight hours ago.”

However, White is not just a world-class snooker player. Apparently he is not that bad at poker. When I asked him whether he had won a tournament before, he replied: “Yeah, I won the Poker Million in London, my home city, in 2004. I’ve always been quite good at the game since a young age”.

And Jimmy is not the only snooker player to take up poker at a competitive level, as Welsh stars Matthew Stevens and Mark Williams have also enjoyed a degree of success in lucrative tournaments.

So perhaps Jimmy is not that unlucky after all. After winning a poker tournament and fighting testicular cancer in 2001, there is evidence to suggest that a great deal (excuse the pun) of luck has helped him through life.

But on a less positive note, young snooker star Paul Hunter tragically lost his battle against cancer recently. The “Whirlwind” subsequently revealed that he would never get over the loss of such a great player.

“Me and Kevin [White’s agent] were very close to Paul, we were probably as close to him as anybody in snooker. We are still gutted. I don’t think we will ever get over that one, he was our little mate.”

In fond memory of Hunter, members of Cardiff University Snooker Club were collecting money at the event in aid of Cancer Research.

Finally, what was the best moment in White’s snooker career?

“I’ve been in six world finals, I’ve won 22 majors and 41 invitation tournaments, but winning the UK Championship in 1992 was the best moment.”

Of course, the answer to that question would change if the “Whirlwind” adds a World Championship to his trophy cabinet. Unfortunately, time is running out for the greatest player who has never been crowned as world champion.