'I faced Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis – I know snooker's GOAT'

Jimmy White settled the age-old statement of who is the top snooker subordinate of each clip having played the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis

Apart from winning the World Championship, determination is thing Jimmy White hasn’t seen oregon done successful the world of snooker.

The Whirlwind was a six-time runner-up astatine the Crucible and won 10 rankings titles, including the UK Championship successful 1992, connected apical of claiming the Masters successful 1984. At 62, White is inactive competing connected the World Snooker Tour, which helium combines with his Eurosport punditry duties.

Having played against and observed the sport’s greats, helium is amended placed than astir to reply the old-age statement of who is the top ever. He answered that question successful 2023 arsenic helium named his all-time apical 10.

White was clear, naming Ronnie O’Sullivan arsenic the sport’s greatest, up of Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis. He told Eurosport: “Ronnie O’Sullivan for definite the GOAT, top of each time. Seven satellite titles, 7 UK titles, 7 Masters titles, much than 1,200 centuries truthful acold successful his career.

“Why he’s truthful bully is due to the fact that helium makes the crippled look truthful easy. That is wherefore Ronnie O’Sullivan is the top of each time.”

Since that feature, the Rocket has taken his tally of UK Championship and Masters titles to 8 each. It remains to beryllium seen whether helium volition assertion different 1 aft pulling retired of a bid of tournaments this season, including the caller Masters, for aesculapian reasons.

White placed Hendry, different seven-time satellite champion, 2nd connected his list. Four of those victories came against the Whirlwind, who said: “I should person won astatine slightest 2 of them. The different two, helium wholly outplayed me.

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“A large champion, five-time Masters champion connected the trot. He got into his ain bubble and thing fazed him. I person got to enactment him somewhat successful beforehand of Steve Davis.”

On Davis, White explained: “For me, the hardest subordinate successful my vocation to beat. Fantastic player, fantastic agelong potter, fantastic temperament, large nether pressure. I volition enactment Steve Davis precocious up, arsenic helium is 1 of the top of each time.”

That illustrious apical 3 was followed by Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Alex Higgins, John Higgins, Ray Reardon, himself and Joe Davis. Had helium been asked to marque the database now, White whitethorn beryllium tempted to insert Judd Trump, who is good retired successful beforehand astatine the apical of the satellite rankings.

Already this year, Trump has won the £500,000 Saudi Arabia Masters and claimed his 2nd UK Championship crown.

Jimmy White’s snooker apical 10

1. Ronnie O'Sullivan

2. Stephen Hendry

3. Steve Davis

4. Mark Selby

5. Mark Williams

6. Alex Higgins

7. John Higgins

8. Ray Reardon

9. Jimmy White

10. Joe Davis