Revamp of game sees White eye ultimate prize again

It was a remarkable admission from one of the most gifted players ever to have picked up a cue.

Known as the 'People's Champion', a disillusioned White skipped the UK Championship to head Down Under, swapping the baize for some bushtucker trials, and an Australian diet of cockroaches and bugs.

White, who lost 22lbs in his three-week stint in the jungle, quickly became a firm favourite with television viewers, reaching the final three before he was booted out of the show.

But since his return to these shores White has witnessed a remarkable revolution of the game under the stewardship of Barry Hearn.

Twenty20-style snooker tournaments have been added to the calendar, more overseas events are in the pipeline and what was becoming a stagnant spectator sport is now starting to win back fans, and just as importantly, sponsors.

"I was in the jungle this time last year. It's been a massive turnaround since Barry Hearn came over and took snooker over," said 48-year-old White, who is back at the UK Championship in Telford this week, having been drawn against his old nemesis Stephen Hendry in the first round on Sunday.

"I voted for Barry and he has opened up the game, the World Seniors Championship is one of the new tournaments. He is doing a good job so far.

"There were only six ranking tournaments and everyone was getting fed up because you had six weeks in between and no-one knew what to do with themselves.

"I love the new formats they have brought in, the quicker games, and they have opened up the competitions to the amateurs too."

Last month's inaugural World Seniors Championship in Bradford at Cedar Court Hotel saw legendary players like Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor and Yorkshireman Joe Johnson compete.

The tournament will be screened over Christmas by Sky, but that is the limit to White's screen ambitions. After appearing on I'm a Celebrity.., a role in the Danny Dyer movie, Jack Said followed but it made White – a six-time Crucible runner-up – realise he is most at home with cue in hand.

"I think that's my acting career over," he laughed. "It was good fun, I just did it to see what it was like, great to see other professionals do their job."

Not that he is short of work. As well as an ever-increasing number of main tour events, White is also part of the Snooker Legends tour, which sees stars of yesteryear travel round the country entertaining fans.

"The Legends Tour is just fantastic. We have just booked in another 26 dates for next year," says White, with dates at Sheffield's Crucible, Barnsley Metrodome and Doncaster Dome on the calendar.

"We are bringing Cliff Thorburn and Kirk Stevens over, Dennis Taylor, so we are all back playing again together.

"It's really busy, I enjoy competing and I am really enjoying my snooker."

Most people acknowledge that White is probably the best player to have never won the World Championship, but the Essex cueman leaves me snookered by his response when I ask him what his most cherished Crucible memories are.

"Well I haven't finished yet," he stresses. "I can easily go on and win it next year. You only have to produce the form over two weeks, which I am capable of doing.

"I won a tournament last year when I beat John Higgins in a final, I won a six reds tournament in Thailand where they had over 350 players competing, so I am okay. I wouldn't play if I didn't think I could win the World Championship. Steve Davis (the six-time Crucible champion, five years White's senior) reached the quarter-finals in April; he only needed three more to win the title."

For the 'People's Champion' to be crowned World Champion, now that's one script I am sure White might just consider.