JIMMY WHITE FACTFILE Date of birth: 2/5/62 Nickname: The Whirlwind Turned professional: 1980 Current world ranking: 15 2004 Order of Merit points: 210 (equal fourth)

Jimmy White has established himself as the most popular player the sport has ever known, with a host of major titles to his name all won with his trademark flamboyance at the table.

White has won virtually every honour the sport has to offer, but the ultimate crown - the World Championship - has eluded him despite six appearances in the final.

The series of agonising near misses - including an 18-17 defeat to Stephen Hendry in 1994 - have left "The Whirlwind" with the unwanted tag as the best player never to have won the title.

He first picked up a cue aged 11 and had accumulated his first century break within a year. He notched up a memorable maximum 147 break at the 1992 World Championship.

The 41-year-old has defied the passing of the years to fight his way back into the elite top 16 and reached his first major final in five years at last month's European Open although he eventually lost to youngster Stephen Maguire.

White, a father of five, has won nine ranking tournaments during a professional career that began back in 1980 and was made an MBE for his services to the sport in 1999.

Outside of snooker, White is good friends with Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stone's guitarist, as well as being a big Chelsea fan.