Steve Davis has quipped that snooker legend Jimmy White’s heating allowance is the reason he still plays.
Known for four decades as one of snooker’s true entertainers due to his ‘whirlwind’ style and vivid life away from the green baize, the six-time World Championship finalist still dazzles fans with his skill despite the partying days being well behind him. At 62, White secured his Tour Card last year through performance alone and advanced to the second round of the Northern Ireland Open.
Davis, who had many epic showdowns with White in years gone by, including the gripping 1987 UK Championship final where he emerged victorious 16-14, is astonished by White’s enduring prowess. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport, Davis said, “How amazing. What is he, 62 now? That is amazing.”
He pointed out that Fred Davis competed in the worlds at age 64, but noted that was an era with almost guaranteed spots in the Crucible. Praising White’s remarkable ability to consistently challenge the world’s top players, Davis hopes to see the Whirlwind continue to defy time.
“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.”
Asked about Jimmy White’s unyielding drive to keep playing while his contemporaries have long called it quits, Steve Davis joked: “I think what’s happened is that he’s spotted you don’t automatically get a heating allowance when you get to 65 so he’s decided to carry on!
“When I retired, I decided I didn’t want to practice again with a view to getting ready for a tournament. I haven’t got the motivation to try and get the ball in the hole these days, I’ve got other fish to fry! “.