Time changes expectation. For two decades, snooker followers would debate whether it would be Jimmy White's year at the Crucible. These days, we wonder whether he will earn a place in the sport's premier event.

At 10am tomorrow, The Whirlwind, 45, will play Mark King at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield in the final qualifying round for the 888.com World Championship. Just ten frames are required to secure a place in Tuesday's draw for the first-round proper, but, given his woeful form, returning to the Crucible for the 26th time would be a monumental achievement for the fading veteran.

Yet the snooker world is united in a desire to see White back at the venue that defined him as one of British sport's great hard-luck stories. Fifteen quarter-finals, ten semi-finals, six finals but never a world champion.

Among those fervently hoping that White can rekindle old magic and add to a Crucible tally of 85,219 points, 1,558 frames, 38 century breaks and £956,025 in prize-money is the only player who can approach his friend's level of popularity, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

“I'd absolutely love to see Jimmy lining up with all of us next month,” he said. “When you think of the Crucible, you think of people like Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Jimmy. He didn't qualify last year and there seemed something missing from the championship. It would be tremendous for Jimmy and for the game if he got through.”

Anthony Hamilton will make his twelfth appearance at the Crucible Theatre next month after a 10-2 win over Scott MacKenzie last night in the final qualifying round. “This is what it’s all about for us. This and the Masters are the only two events we have. The other tournaments are just tinpot,” Hamilton said.

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