Stephen Hendry decided not to accept a new two-year wildcard offered by the World Snooker Tour ahead of this season – but Jimmy White remains as part of the competitors gunning for glory.
White has been a professional player since 1980 and has now had his tour card renewed by the powers that be who organise professional snooker.
The Whirlwind is a firm fan favourite and it’s sickening that a player of his talent has never been able to call himself a world champion.
Hendry defeated White in four finals during the nineties but the Scottish seven-time winner at The Crucible is full of admiration for a player he’s enjoyed many battles with down the years.
Stephen Hendry shares what he wishes Jimmy White would do more often
The seven-time world champion is still around the snooker tour, with his work for BBC and ITV as a pundit ongoing.
Hendry is well versed at giving out advice to players and he’s amazed that White is still on the tour – even if he’d like to see him do something more often.
He told The Snooker Club podcast: “I have no end to my admiration for Jimmy to keep going out there and to keep practising. He’s losing way more than he’s winning, but he clearly loves the game.
“On his day he can beat a lot of tough players, but there aren’t enough of those days. I wish Jimmy would just chill out a bit and treat it almost like a laugh – like a day out.
“Whenever I watch Jimmy, it’s like every shot is a pint of blood. If he could find a way to enjoy it, he might get more results.”
White still clinging on to glory prospects
For Hendry, the decision to walk away from playing snooker this time around will be an easy one given all he’s achieved in the game.
White would surely love one more tilt at winning – or going deep – at The Crucible and that’s probably why he’s still playing.
White has won 10 ranking titles in his career and a host of non-ranking titles, including the Masters.
At 62 years old, White’s time at the top table has surpassed him and now it needs to be all about enjoying himself on the tour.
White will get himself a trip to China for the Wuhan Open in October after beating Dominic Dale in the qualifiers last week.
That should settle him down and now he can look forward to some time in China and a chance to play in front of a big crowd who will definitely give him a good reception.