Welcome to the world of Jimmy White, a renowned snooker player whose career has left an indelible mark on the sport. With his exceptional skills on the green baize and a personality as colorful as the balls he plays with, Jimmy White has captivated fans around the globe. Known affectionately as the Whirlwind, White’s career has been defined by his thrilling style of play, his resilience in the face of adversity, and his undeniable passion for the game.
Throughout his illustrious career, Jimmy White has not only achieved remarkable success on the snooker table but has also become a beloved figure in the world of sports. His journey, filled with triumphs and tribulations, has inspired countless individuals and continues to be a source of inspiration for aspiring players. From his early days as a prodigious talent to his battles with personal demons, Jimmy White’s story is one of perseverance, determination, and ultimately, triumph. His quotes reflect his wisdom, wit, and love for the game, offering insight into the mind of a true snooker legend.
The people in China love their snooker. We get a fantastic reception when we go over there. Jimmy White
I would have prepared differently before big matches but I wouldn’t change my life. Jimmy White
I was a beat-the-system sort of player, but you can’t beat the system, you have to prepare properly. Jimmy White
Listen, I could have won the World Championship. Obviously if I had the chance to do it all again I would do things differently. But then would I have still wanted to play? Jimmy White
I have always loved playing snooker. Jimmy White
I love playing O’Sullivan. It is a bit of a role reversal from when I used to play Alex Higgins. Jimmy White
Some people take the view that I’m too laid back. Yet it’s how I feel. Jimmy White
If I didn’t think I could win the World Championship I would go and play golf badly in Spain. Jimmy White
I was a big fan of Naseem Hamed, and followed him. Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and I know him well. Jimmy White
First thing about snooker, find a cue you’re happy with. Then stick with it. Jimmy White
If I ever leave home without my insoles, I send someone for them because after a day the pain starts to return. Jimmy White
I play poker face to face. Jimmy White
I love Belfast, because of the way that people here love their snooker. And I won my first professional tournament here in 1981. It was at the King’s Hall and I beat Doug Mountjoy in the final. That victory will always be pretty special for me. Jimmy White
Within a day of wearing the insoles, my feet felt more comfortable, and a week later I was able to go for walks, play golf, and play football with my son, which I hadn’t for years. The insole is sculpted to the foot and manipulates it into the correct position, preventing damage to the plantar fascia tissue. Jimmy White
Snooker still fascinates me and I still get a buzz from it. Jimmy White
In the past I’d lose and not talk for a few days. I’d become strange. Difficult to live with. Jimmy White
I got to 16st when it became painful for me to walk. Jimmy White
Hendry’s fine. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. Jimmy White
I think boxing is a fantastic sport. Jimmy White
I like the hypnosis. Nothing too deep – just enough to keep me clearer and more focused. Jimmy White
I did abuse the game a bit because I didn’t give it the respect sometimes. Jimmy White
Because I could do things on the snooker table that no other player could do, I just had this sort of self-destruct button in me. Jimmy White
I’m a supporter of Barry Hearn, I voted for him and will support him in whatever he wants to do. Jimmy White
Snooker is not like boxing or football – you can go on longer. Jimmy White
Not only did I have to face the great Steve Davis for 10 years, Stephen Hendry came along, who attacked the balls. He was such an incredible potter with self-belief. Jimmy White
Believe me, I feel the same way now about snooker as I did when I was 13. Jimmy White
In a way, sometimes I was quite pleased when I got beat, ‘cos then I could do my antics. Jimmy White
I love playing in Ireland and I’ve had great support here, like I get everywhere. Jimmy White
That period in the late Eighties and early Nineties was when I was playing my best snooker. My trouble was that I had so many bad habits that my preparation was terrible: people like Steve Davis or Dennis Taylor were model pros. Jimmy White
From having no money and coming from a very proud working class family, it was tough. But then all of a sudden we had loads and loads of cash. I realised that this was a great opportunity to do what I love for a living. I was going to tournaments up and down the country and I was able to win anything from five to seven thousand pounds. Jimmy White
I really enjoy working as a pundit. Jimmy White
Alex Higgins was my hero, so to play in Belfast, at the superb Waterfront Hall, is very special to me. Jimmy White
Ding has a fantastic all-round game. His temperament is also at a very high level. Jimmy White
Northern Ireland as a whole is a great snooker country because of Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor and now of course there is Mark Allen. It’s a hotbed of snooker and a place where our sport is always well supported. Jimmy White
My dad was a coalman and was always playing snooker with his mates. Jimmy White
I never abused anybody but myself. Jimmy White
People appreciate anyone who takes chances – they like a bit of flair. Jimmy White
I’m such an addictive personality that I can say yes or no. Jimmy White
If Ding keeps performing the way he has been doing then it is inevitable the World Championship will go to his country. Jimmy White
I have no regrets, I’ve had a fantastic life, travelled the world. Jimmy White
I have only prepared properly for the World Championship three or four times in my life. If I had gone about it professionally I would have won the title 10 times. Jimmy White
On my 50th birthday the Rolling Stones played at my party at Grosvenor House. That’s not bad for a kid from Tooting. Jimmy White
I have been tamed. My party days are well and truly behind me. Jimmy White
To be honest, most of my troubles – bankruptcy, drinking, gambling – were self-inflicted. Jimmy White
We earned any fans with the way we play. Jimmy White
I grew up in south London and spent most of my adolescence in the snooker halls of the area, turning professional at 17. Jimmy White
I was never a playboy but I was an out and about boy. Jimmy White
The thought of the weekends I used to have now makes me shake. Jimmy White
I used to think of exhibitions as being practice but they are not. Jimmy White
If you’ve got to win ugly, do it. Jimmy White
I had such fun, even though I can’t remember much. Jimmy White
That’s the hardest part of the game. You’ve got to stay focused. With golf, make a mistake and you get another shot straight away; but with snooker you could be five minutes before you get another chance. Jimmy White
The trouble started when I won the world amateur title in 1980, aged 18. People began talking about me as the next star of the game. But I also started to get recognised more and I wasn’t prepared for it. Jimmy White
It sounds strange to be world champion at the Crucible. Jimmy White
Testicular cancer occurs in young men, just the people who don’t bother much about their health. Jimmy White
I mean what’s the point of them becoming professional snooker players? If there’s not much money in the game, if there’s no guarantee of future tournaments, if no one knows what’s going on. Jimmy White
I’ve been gambling since the age of 12. Horses, dogs, dice, roulette, you name it. Jimmy White
I play golf but very badly. Jimmy White
I was introduced to the game by my father, Tommy, when I was 11. Jimmy White
I’ve had my dark days, but I wasn’t really a hell-raiser as such. Jimmy White
I don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Jimmy White
Talent, it can become a trap. Jimmy White
Ronnie is a very clever winner. He will make sure that he does everything in his power to win the tournament. He is super-fit. Jimmy White
We go out and have a drink occasionally. We’re quite happy to go for a nice meal and go the theatre or something. Jimmy White
Ronnie is the greatest player to have ever picked up a snooker cue. People have said that about me. But although I won 50 or so tournaments I never picked up the world championship. That was a little bit of a disappointment. Jimmy White
I could be in Spain, spending my time playing bad golf; financially I don’t need to play snooker. I play because I love it. Jimmy White
Ronnie Wood’s my good mate, I’m godfather to his twins. Jimmy White
I love life. Jimmy White
Do I have any regrets about my life? No. Jimmy White
I think I should win every tournament I enter. Jimmy White
I like visiting new places where the game is opening up. Jimmy White
The best match I ever played in was the U.K. championship final against John Parrot in 1992. I won 16-14 and I felt like I could pot anything from anywhere. Jimmy White
I was mad-keen on poker as a kid. It was like the snooker, pulling me into that same smokey atmosphere I loved. Jimmy White
Most gamblers do it for ego. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about challenging your ego and showing your mates you’re fearless and will bet on anything. Jimmy White
I’ve always been one of the best players with the rest but I’d rather be able to reach the shot without it. Jimmy White
I’ve survived through my love for the game. Jimmy White
I’ve played 8-ball in Hong Kong and I’m more knowledgeable with that than 9-ball. Jimmy White
Snooker lifted me out of depression. Jimmy White
Certain styles of play take a bit longer. Jimmy White
I used to be jack the lad, I was out a lot, I was mainly waking up with hangovers at tournaments rather than preparing. Jimmy White
The Queen is a true professional and calmly pinned my MBE on. Jimmy White
The worst problem I’ve probably had was the gambling – you can do your money in the bookies a lot quicker than you can do it in the pub. Jimmy White
My eyes are fine. Jimmy White
I’m lucky to be alive. Jimmy White
Snooker’s only popular in China now. Well China’s OK to go to once or twice a year but to go and play six or seven tournaments there is too much. Jimmy White
It is like any sport. You practise thousands of times and you miss the simplest ball and you don’t understand why. But that’s why snooker is so special, because all of sudden you can lose everything. Jimmy White
We play Snooker Legends exhibitions and there is never a spare ticket. Jimmy White
It meant so much to me lifting the Alex Higgins Trophy at Goffs. Jimmy White
One of my great heroes was my brother. You couldn’t have dreamt of a better one. Jimmy White
Over the years I have been in a lot of trouble but I’ve always managed to switch off and play. Jimmy White
Golf and snooker are similar. They are ball games that you don’t have to be super fit for. It’s not like boxing or football when, at 35, you are on your way home. Jimmy White
Ronnie O’Sullivan, the greatest snooker player ever, will tell you that he doesn’t practise. I’m not having that. I call him Roger, after Federer, because he’s a genius. He doesn’t like that nickname. Jimmy White
I know sometimes I played to the crowd, and it did cost me. Jimmy White
I learnt the game as a kid hustling car dealers for cash. Jimmy White
Everyone wants to be with someone. Jimmy White
In the past it sometimes took me two or three rounds to get the adrenaline rush. Jimmy White
Everything for me was to beat the system, the way I played was to beat the system. Jimmy White
If you’re playing the best of 19, and it’s 7-7 and there’s only five frames left, you tend to take a few more chances. Jimmy White
