"‘Fought Like a Warrior’ – Jimmy White Disses Ronnie O’Sullivan While Revealing His Toughest Opponent Yet"

SNOOKER icon Jimmy White has named his toughest ever opponent… and it’s not Ronnie O’Sullivan.

, 63, is one of the most decorated stars of all time with 10 ranking titles to his name.

Jimmy White has named his greatest snooker rival Credit: Shutterstock Editorial He did not name seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan or nemesis Stephen Hendry Credit: Getty Instead White named Steve Davis as his greatest rival Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

However, the trophy managed to elude White despite six appearances in the Crucible final, making him arguably the best ever player to never be a world champion.

The first of those came in 1984 against Steve Davis.

He then made the next five finals in a row, with his efforts in 1990 and 1991 being thwarted by and John Parrott.

Hendry was present again to stop White from becoming a world champion three more times between 1992 and 1994.

White also never beat seven-time world champion in either of the non-ranking finals they met in, the 1997 Superstar International and 2006 Premier League.

However, when speaking to The Telegraph and asked to name his greatest opponent, he didn’t name long-term nemesis Hendry or The Rocket, or even his hero Alex Higgins.

Instead, White believes his greatest rival was fellow south London-born cueist Davis, who won the last of his six world titles against The Whirlwind.

He said: “His game didn’t suit my game.

“Even when you beat Steve, you’d been through a war.

“He’s a modern-day .”

White did manage to beat Davis in the 1998 Canadian Masters, but that was the only time he beat The Nugget in a ranking final.

He also reflected on how he carried on going in his career after his numerous near-misses at glory.

White added: “I took some major defeats when I should have won.

“Most players would not carry on. I think I started to do quite a bit of DIY that summer.

“I did more damage trying to turn my garage into a man cave.”

White remains on the World Snooker Tour, but has not appeared at the Crucible for 20 years, a run that continued after losing in the first round of qualifying to Gao Yang – a player 41 years younger than him.

The snooker icon explained his love for the game has always been there, and is the one addiction he cannot kick, even after potting away his wild nights and brief cocaine addiction.

He said: “My love for the game has always been there.

“I did drift in and out: for 25 years, I was nursing hangovers.

“That’s not the case now, I’m really enjoying my snooker.

“I’m 63, people go: ‘Why do you torture yourself?’

“But that’s the buzz, especially now having a club and playing OK.

“I have to work hard, whereas [before] I was naturally talented, it wasn’t taught.

“If I wasn’t timing the ball, you can miss anything.”