By Elliott West
“It’s ok to be nervous because it means you’re alive!”.
Jimmy White
Introduction
Jimmy White is living proof that snooker can defy the ageing process. At nearly 61, White is currently experiencing an Indian Summer of form with a brilliant run in the WST Classic, beating a number of players including a 4-2 victory over Judd Trump to reach the last 16 of the tournament. Jimmy freely admits that he is a perfectionist and that definitely shines through in his reformed work ethic. Long gone are the late nights of drinking and partying in nightclubs, replaced by a disciplined regime of structured practice and enjoyment of playing snooker, something that would have been an alien concept to this Londoner in the past. Someone that you may have to be an ace detective to actually even find in the first place of a morning. White is a reformed wild child, a snooker player who has class oozing through his veins. You don’t win 10 ranking titles and reached six World Championship finals by accident.
With a career spanning almost 50 years, Jimmy has played almost everyone that has ever played amateur and professional snooker dating as far back as the latter days of Fred Davis and John Pulman. He took a leaf out of Alex Higgins’ genius book but carried on the blazing trail that Alex sadly couldn’t remain on. A rough diamond that has gradually been polished over time to produce a player who thoroughly entertains on the green baize, producing flair, drama and pure snooker magic. Such is his class that I wouldn’t be surprised if he surpasses Fred Davis’ illustrious career, one that didn’t end until had was 80 in 1993, playing his last World Championship match when he was 70 in 1984 and reaching the quarter-finals of the same tournament earlier in 1979 after sensationally beating Kirk Stevens 13-8 before eventually losing 13-4 to Eddie Charlton.
Nerves
Nerves and adrenalin are part of a chemical formula that drives a snooker player. The key to success is finding the right ratio and making it work for you. Jimmy White knows that only too well and as a lifelong fan of his, I know this only too well. I, like many, experienced his highs and lows, knife-edge matches that often took me to the brink and back again. If you want to be hyper-critical of Jimmy, you could throw the accusation at him that he could have won more, losing a number of crucial matches, letting his nerves get in the way and causing him to miss pots that he would never miss in practice.
The Wonder of White
Jimmy is brilliant at what he does. He literally makes the cue ball dance to his own tune and isn’t afraid to take on that near-impossible pot when he is backed into a corner by his opponent. Whether it is the zip of a banana shot or a long pot that breaks the teeth of the jaws of the intended pocket, White still makes at times an extraordinary game look easy. He has a love affair with snooker that never wanes and whether he is playing in a tournament or an exhibition, he makes every effort because he knows that if his fans pay good money to come and see. White is a crowd-pleaser, he plays snooker that comes from the heart, conviction snooker that combines naughtiness with true skill.
The Secret
The secret to Jimmy White’s longevity and success comes really from going back to the drawing board. His recent string of wins this season largely stems from incorporating the elements of his game that were missing during the bulk of his career. In the old days, Jimmy just turned up for a match and relied on his box of skills to get him over the line but now he puts in the hours of practice, hones in on the weaker side of his game and gets on a snooker table whenever he has an opportunity. He may have the odd cigarette or alcoholic beverage but these vices no longer rule his life. Long gone is the drug fuelled lifestyle that cost him a large portion of his career earnings and replaced instead with a clean life.
Jimmy also had learned to cope with his nerves better. Even when he played Judd Trump in the WST Classic and went down from 3-0 up, he didn’t fester in his chair and mull over his mistakes. Instead, he held onto the coat tails of Judd Trump and waited for his opportunities. He also handles his nerves better and tries to use them to fuel rather than hinder his game. Adored by fans and players alike, Jimmy is here to stay and I am sure that he will continue to produce these glimmers of genius well into his old age.
