Jimmy White is a true snooker veteran but he showed his childish side with a hilarious joke at the World Seniors Championship. He made the wisecrack during his narrow defeat to Robert Milkins in the second round on Thursday night. White found himself on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline, losing in a black-ball decider.
He was on good form throughout the match despite the result, producing three breaks over 50 and impressing with his long game. At one point, after building a break of 69, the 64-year-old couldn’t resist cracking a joke as the referee announced his score.
White replied: “How much?”, prompting the referee to repeat himself. The snooker legend, who lost six World Championship finals at the Crucible between 1984 and 1994, then joked: “It’s been a while.”
The contest ultimately went straight to a black-ball shoot-out rather than a deciding frame. White tried to double the black down the length of the table, but it became stuck in the jaws of the yellow bag, allowing Milkins a simple pot to claim victory.
Joe Perry, the former Welsh Open champion, was on commentary duties and said: “Oh no! That’s always the gamble when you play it that way. For a moment there, I thought it was in.”
It came after White launched a stinging attack on those who believe the World Seniors shouldn’t be held at the Crucible, telling them: “Get a life.”
The event has been staged at the iconic Sheffield theatre since 2019, giving the heroes of yesteryear another chance to walk out at snooker’s most prestigious venue.
Dave Gilbert, the world No 31, recently argued the Crucible should only be used for the main World Championship but White later issued a firm rebuttal.
Speaking to Metro, he said: “Get a life. Listen, this is why we’re here. Why not? It’s a World Championship, the World Seniors. I don’t know why people would say that. It don’t make any sense.”
White had earlier described the Crucible as the best venue in the world as he opened his bid for a fifth World Seniors title with a 4-1 win over Daniel Ward.
“It is so great to be back playing here,” he said. “It is the best venue in the world. I’m playing okay, I missed a couple. But I’m delighted to be here, and playing the game I love, occasionally not too bad.”