Jimmy White has imposed a mobile phone ban on himself as he looks to reach the World Snooker Championship for the first time in 20 years.
The six-time Crucible runner-up last graced the final 32 of the tournament in 2006, when he lost in the first round to David Gray.
The 63-year-old, who remains on the World Snooker Tour, has been trying to get back to that stage ever since, only to fall short in qualifying.
White’s Preparation for Qualifying
White begins his latest attempt when he takes on Chinese star Gao Yang in the opening round of qualifying at Sheffield’s Institute of Sport on Monday.
By his own admission, the Whirlwind is far more professional nowadays compared to his heyday in the 80s and 90s. Having enlisted his youngest son’s help, he says his preparation, including keeping his phone out of reach, could not have been better.
He told The Sun: “I’m going with my son this time, only because he’s been getting the balls out. I’ve got no distractions. I’ll have no phone, nothing.
“I’m going up there the best prepared I’ve been for probably 25 years. I know that sounds crazy, but it really is the truth.”
Jimmy White’s Sports Lounge Impact
White says having his own club, the Jimmy White Sports Lounge in Woking, which opened in 2024, has helped him massively. He said: “Since I’ve opened the club, I’ve been practising more than ever.
“Having a club, I’ve had loads of people come and play loads of matches. I feel a lot sharper going into these qualifiers.
“I’m there every day. What I was doing previously, when I’d go to my club in Epsom, I’d have a couple of hours practice with my son, then maybe go back and do another hour and a half.
“But with Jimmy’s Lounge, I’m there all day and without even knowing, I’m playing like six or seven hours. It’s really brought me on, you know, leaps and bounds.
“I hope I can keep this form up. I’ve got to win four matches, which is like winning a tournament because you have to win four best-of-19 frames. But my game has never been in better shape. I’m really excited.”
The Road to the Crucible
As the 123rd-ranked player in the world, White starts off in the opening round of qualifying, which runs until April 15. Only the top 16 players in the world go straight to the last 32, while higher-ranked players enter qualifying at later stages.
Even if White fails to qualify, he will still play at the Crucible this spring after signing up to play in the World Seniors Championship, which begins on May 6. White, who won the World Seniors in 2023, will be joined at the 2026 event by Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and Ali Carter.