'I'm a snooker legend who made six world finals – these are the five best players ever'
EXCLUSIVE: Snooker legend Jimmy White has given his verdict on the sport's greatest players of all time.
Snooker icon Jimmy White has faced many great players throughout his career. The 63-year-old has spanned many eras of the sport and produced a top five list when asked to name the best ever.
‘The Whirlwind’, who played an exhibition match against Ken Doherty ahead of the recent Masters final, has clinched 10 ranking titles since turning professional in 1980. He was part of a famous rivalry with Steve Davis at the start of his career, including their meeting in the 1984 World Snooker Championship final. It was the first of six finals for White over the next decade, who also faced Stephen Hendry on four occasions, with two of his world final opponents included on his greatest of all time list.
When asked to name the best snooker player of all time, White, via Midnite, told Express Sport five names: Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Judd Trump. However, White was previously certain that O’Sullivan deserved top spot.
In 2023, he explained on Eurosport: "Ronnie O'Sullivan [is] for sure the GOAT, greatest of all time. Seven world titles, seven UK titles, seven Masters titles, more than 1,200 centuries so far in his career. Why he's so good is because he makes the game look so easy. That is why Ronnie O'Sullivan is the greatest of all time.”
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
O’Sullivan has now won eight Masters and UK Championships but still shares the World Championship record with Hendry. White is particularly familiar with the Scotsman’s prowess, having lost to him in four world finals.
During the same Eurosport broadcast, he said of Hendry: "I should have won at least two of them. The other two, he completely outplayed me. A great champion, five-time Masters champion on the trot. He got into his own bubble and nothing fazed him.”
While Hendry denied him an elusive world title on four ocassions, White still considered six-time champion Davis to be his toughest foe. Giving his verdict on Eurosport, he said: "For me, the hardest player in my career to beat. Fantastic player, fantastic long potter, fantastic temperament, great under pressure. I will put Steve Davis high up, as he is one of the greatest of all time."
Mark Selby claimed his fourth world title in 2021 and White showed appreciation for his game during the 2024 Welsh Open. “He’s as hard as nails. He’s a nice fella, he shakes everybody’s hand when he’s playing them, he’s a total gentleman. But make no mistake, he is ruthless on the snooker table,” White said on TNT Sports.
“He’s probably the toughest…I thought growing up with Steve Davis, seeing how tactical he was…[Selby’s] took the tactical side to a different level. He can tie people up in knots but he enjoys to get in and score.”
Current world No. 1 Trump is the youngest player on White’s list by six years and ‘The Whirlwind’ has been impressed by his development. "Make no mistake about it, [he is one of the best ever],” White said after Trump won the 2024 UK Championship.
“We always talk about how he was just about potting balls, playing naughty snooker. What he’s done, he’s rounded his game, he’s got great safety play. He’s a great shot-maker, great shot selection at the right time.”
He continued: "He is Judd Trump, and once again, he produced under pressure - and that’s why he’s champion. An incredible snooker player.”
Midnite, who sponsored the 2026 Masters, unveiled the Midnite Shuttle on ahead of last week’s final, transporting fans from Alexandra Palace Station to the main entrance, saving them the arduous walk up the hill.
Driven by Ken Doherty, fans gained access by showing the Midnite app on their mobile devices. Jimmy White was speaking following his exhibition match vs Ken Doherty at the Midnite Lounge, a luxury area open to all fans who attended the Masters.
