If popularity could be converted into silverware, Jimmy White would have outstripped Joe Davis, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry as the greatest player ever to pick up a cue.

The Whirlwind, cheered on by a vast tract of the British public in all 75 matches he has contested at the Crucible, oozed natural talent but always came up short, often agonisingly, in pursuit of the trophy.

White’s many highs were forgotten, overshadowed by an annual crushing low – he lost in six finals. However, everyone, including his opponent, rejoiced when he achieved break building perfection in 1992.

Fifteen reds, fifteen blacks and the colours were stylishly stroked and powered in by the left-hander as in the penultimate frame of his 10-4 first round win over Tony Drago the left-hander put together only the second Crucible maximum.

Surely at long last, they said, this will be White’s year. He followed up by beating Alain Robidoux 13-11, Jim Wych 13-9 and Alan McManus 16-7 but, having led 14-8, lost 18-14 to Hendry in the title.

It was his fourth defeat in a Crucible final, two more would follow and given that he will close the season 60th in the world rankings it is fanciful to believe that White, now 44, will ever again contend.

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