Jimmy White has settled the long-standing debate over the greatest snooker player of all time, drawing on his experience playing against legends like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and Steve Davis. While he never won the World Championship, White’s career is filled with remarkable achievements. Known as “The Whirlwind,” he was a six-time runner-up at the Crucible and won 10 ranking titles, including the 1992 UK Championship and the 1984 Masters. At 62, White continues to compete on the World Snooker Tour while also serving as a pundit for Eurosport.
Having faced and studied the sport’s greatest players, White is uniquely qualified to weigh in on this debate. In 2023, he revealed his all-time top 10 players and firmly named Ronnie O’Sullivan as the greatest. Speaking to Eurosport, White said, “Ronnie O’Sullivan is undoubtedly the GOAT. Seven world titles, seven UK titles, seven Masters titles, and over 1,200 centuries in his career. What makes him exceptional is how effortless he makes the game look. That’s why he’s the greatest of all time.”
Since White’s comments, O’Sullivan has increased his tally of UK Championship and Masters titles to eight each. However, his future remains uncertain as he has withdrawn from several tournaments this season, including the recent Masters, due to medica
White ranked Stephen Hendry, another seven-time world champion, second on his list. Reflecting on his four World Championship final losses to Hendry, White admitted, “I should have won at least two of them. The other two, he completely outplayed me.”