Jimmy White will receive a fresh invitational tour card to compete on the professional snooker circuit, it has been confirmed.
The Whirlwind’s professional status had somewhat been put in jeopardy after losing in the World Snooker Championship qualifiers to Ashley Carty earlier this month.
That result meant that White had failed to break into the top 64 on the official two-year rankings to guarantee tour safety on his own merit.
But it had been widely understood that the soon-to-be 63 year-old would be offered another extension, which is now confirmed.
White has been awarded the invitational tour card through his “outstanding contributions to the sport” over the course of his long career.
It means that he will be able to compete alongside the game’s top stars during the upcoming 2025/26 and 2026/27 snooker seasons.
Jimmy White relies on legend status
Arguably the most popular player in snooker history, Jimmy White first turned professional in 1980 soon after winning the prestigious World Amateur Championship.
He quickly became one of the game’s leading stars, emerging triumphantly at the Masters in 1984 and sealing a maiden ranking title at the Classic two years later.
White captured ten ranking trophies in total, including the 1992 UK Championship where he beat John Parrott in the final, and a host of non-ranking titles.
But it was at the World Championship where White’s legacy will be most remembered.
He went on a 12-year run of reaching the quarter-finals or better and played in five successive finals between 1990 and 1995, having first contested the title-deciding affair in 1984.
The world title that he and his fans desperately craved eluded him, however, and he will go down as a nearly man in Sheffield.
“For me to still be able to play and compete now is like a godsend,” Jimmy White told old rival Stephen Hendry, who beat him in four Crucible finals, on the Cue Tips YouTube channel recently.
“I’m going to play for another three years, and if I don’t win a tournament I’m going to stop. I’m 62. People think ‘why are you doing it? You’re nuts’.”
“I’m trying to work on the mental side. I get myself so at it, because you play so well practicing, but all of a sudden you cannot pot a ball.
“You love the pressure, because that’s half the buzz.”
This will be the fourth time that Jimmy White has been able to avail of an invitational card to participate on the World Snooker Tour.
A four-time world champion on the seniors circuit, he first received a two-year invitational tour card at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, and it was twice renewed after that.
By qualifying for the 2022 UK Championship and reaching the last 16 of the 2023 German Masters, he was able to regain his most recent tour card by his displays on the table.
This time, however, White has had to rely on the invitation lifeline again, with this one extending his illustrious professional career right up to his 65th birthday.
Another chance for Marco Fu
Marco Fu, meanwhile, was also awarded a two-year invitational tour card through his services to the sport.
Hong Kong’s finest potter, a three-time ranking event winner, narrowly missed out on tour survival – finishing 67th on the end-of-season rankings.
In a joint statement, WST chairman Steve Dawson and WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: “Jimmy and Marco have both been incredible ambassadors for snooker.”
“They both continue to bring so much to our sport. We are delighted to award them invitational tour cards for the next two seasons.
“They both remain very competitive as players. In fact, Marco only just missed out on a top 64 ranking this season.
“Jimmy enjoyed some fine wins, notably beating Jackson Page and Hossein Vafaei at the Northern Ireland Open.
“They both have a huge passion for snooker and [have] many millions of fans worldwide.”
Featured photo credit: WST
If Cao Yupeng resigns, Marco Fu would’ve been repreived as he’s next in line to benefit. The new beneficiary would be Ashley Carty. Cao really should resign if he’s no intention of playing all.season. Carty’s livelihood is at stake.
Yes, it’s a strange situation down that part of the rankings. There’s the Dott situation too, which I guess won’t be resolved before the start of next season.
Dott not back in court until June 11.
I’ve just watched Mark Allen compile a Crucible 147! He becomes the first player to make one in all three Triple Crown events. A remarkable aspect of this maximum was the fact that Allen had not potted a ball for just over fifty minutes.
It was a great max, very exciting.