Latest news with #TheWhirlwind
Wales Online
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jimmy White lands new job as 63-year-old snooker legend edges closer to £140,000 prize
Jimmy White lands new job as 63-year-old snooker legend edges closer to £140,000 prize Jimmy White has been rocking the baize since he turned professional in 1980, but the snooker star is set to begin a brand new career on our television screens Jimmy White will soon be embarking on a brand new venture (Image: Tai Chengzhe, VCG via Getty Images ) Jimmy White is used to hearing snooker referees announce his score after every pot - soon he will be hearing a director shout 'Action' at him. At the age of 63, White has begun the new snooker campaign in excellent fashion. He moved one step closer towards the £140,000 first prize at the Wuhan Open by overcoming Anthony McGill 5-2 in his qualifier. The victory means he has cruised into the last 64 of the prestigious Chinese competition, which starts on August 24. However, things are getting exciting away from the table, as 'The Whirlwind' has also secured a cameo in a new TV crime drama. He will be appearing in the television adaptation of 'Write To Kill', penned by renowned London author David P. Perlmutter. The plot centres on an aspiring, indebted writer grappling with creative stagnation until he's propositioned with a lucrative yet immoral task. Reports from Deadline reveal that White is cast as the director of an estate agency, who notably dismisses the protagonist within a snooker hall setting. The book, launched back in 2019, has a synopsis which says: "Caught up in the machinations of the underworld and at the mercy of a London gangland boss, Mad Dog, will this budding writer accept the money, commit the crime, and leave his innocence behind him?" Article continues below The project is currently under development and is slated to be filmed in London and New York. Confirmed cast members include Charlotte Kirk and Elena Sanchez from The Hunger Games. Jimmy White is set to appear in a new TV crime drama (Image: Getty ) Lillee Jean Trueman will helm the director's chair, while discussions are reportedly ongoing for the male lead. This week, White delivered a stellar performance against former World Championship semi-finalist McGill, 45 years after he first turned professional in 1980. The Scot clinched the first frame with a break of 51, but White then demonstrated his enduring skill by securing five of the next six at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. Impressive scores of 92, 80, 90, and 71 ensured that the seasoned player advanced to the last 64. There, the former Masters and UK champion is set to face off against former Grand Prix winner Marco Fu. Like White, Fu is competing on the main circuit courtesy of an invitational wildcard. Jimmy White rolled back the years in his Wuhan Open qualifier (Image: Getty ) Article continues below The Hong Kong player showcased his own enduring prowess with a 5-3 victory over recent Crucible quarter-finalist Chris Wakelin. Despite being well into his 60s, White still has an eye on competing at the top level for longer. He recently told the Stephen Hendry Cue Tips podcast: "For me to still be able to play and compete now is like a godsend. "I'm going to play for another three years and if I don't win a tournament, I'm going to stop. I'm 62. People think, 'Why are you doing it? You're nuts.'"
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jimmy White gets round of applause from TNT Sports colleague after major announcement
Jimmy White was applauded live on air following a major announcement at the 2025 World Snooker Championship, where the 62-year-old has been working as a pundit Fans of snooker legend Jimmy White can rejoice after it was confirmed the iconic talent has been granted another two-year pro card on the World Snooker Tour. The exciting news broke live on air during the 2025 World Snooker Championship just moments after White himself found out. Radzi Chinyanganya shared the announcement on TNT Sports as White, 62, sat alongside fellow snooker greats Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry. Marco Fu was also awarded an invitational tour card along with White, a move that received a round of applause from the production crew on set. Forty-five years since turning professional, White's continued accreditation ensures he can compete in WST events until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. And the ex-world No 2 expressed just how happy he was to remain a part of snooker's exclusive club. "I am delighted with that. I spoke to Barry [Hearn] and Jason Ferguson at World Snooker," he said during an appearance on TNT Sports (via the Daily Express). "They had a meeting yesterday, and I've got my Tour card, so we go again for another couple of years." Concerns over White's career surfaced following his failure to qualify for this year's World Championship. He lost 10-5 to Ashleigh Carty in qualifying, the 19th consecutive year in which he has fallen out just before reaching the main draw. That defeat saw him drop outside the world's top 64 players and led to concerns his time at the top was finally over. But snooker's authorities had other plans. 'The Whirlwind' first blew outside the top 64 back in 2017, leading to the loss of his tour card for the first time in 37 years. Fortunately, he received a lifeline then as well, with a two-year invitational pass ensuring his continued participation. White has experienced a remarkable comeback in recent years and displayed a voracious hunger for competition on the grandest snooker stages. In 2022, he became the oldest player to reach the last 32 of the UK Championship in nearly three decades. He then went on to secure an unprecedented fourth World Seniors Championship title. However, he stubbornly refuses to give up ground to those closer to their primes. White - a six-time finalist at the Crucible - also made history as the first player over 60 to advance to the last 16 of a ranking event at the 2023 German Masters. And many will agree there are few more deserving of that rare honour. His journey to the last 32 of the Northern Ireland Open in October 2024 has reinforced the notion that he's still cut out for this level. And it's clear those in charge of making the decisions at the elite level couldn't agree more. "Jimmy and Marco have both been incredible ambassadors for snooker and they both continue to bring so much to our sport," said WST chair Steve Dawson and WPBSA chair Ferguson. "We are delighted to award them invitational Tour cards for the next two seasons. "They both remain very competitive as players, in fact Marco only just missed out on a top 64 ranking this season, and Jimmy enjoyed some fine wins, notably beating Jackson Page and Hossein Vafaei at the Northern Ireland Open. They both have a huge passion for snooker and many millions of fans worldwide."
