Road to the Crucible: Jimmy White now has weight off shoulders in bid to show he is no spent force

This from snooker legend Jimmy White ahead of his annual pilgrimage to Sheffield next week, but do not be fooled that the ‘Whirlwind’ is slowing down.

When the 54-year-old drives up the M1 from London to compete in the World Championship qualifiers, which start on Wednesday, April 5, it will be the 37th year he has chased Crucible glory.

Of course, White is part of snooker’s rich tapestry, having lost five successive finals in the 90s as Stephen Hendry dominated.

If not for Steve Davis and Hendry, then it is certain White would have boasted a trophy-room bulging with world titles.

In fact, for over a decade from 1984, White boasted a hugely impressive record in Sheffield, reaching six finals, two semi-finals and three quarter-finals.

While his two long-term nemeses have long since retired – though Hendry returned last week after a five-year exile to compete in the World Seniors Championship – White is still competing on the big stage.

He may have slipped down the rankings to the mid-90s, but he has lost none of the enthusiasm for a sport which he has richly blessed. The party image of White and fellow fans’ favourite Alex Higgins may be a distant memory, but he still puts in the hours on the practice table and jets around the world on the circuit.

White – the former UK and Masters champion – heads to Sheffield boasting he has “not felt this good for 20 years” after losing four stones in weight.

Trimmed down, White admits piling on the pounds in his 40s had an adverse effect on his game.

“I am feeling really good, I have got a new lease of life,” White told The Yorkshire Post. “I have lost four stone in weight, and am now cueing so much better.

“I am really enjoying my snooker, have qualified for several tournaments this year, I am in China and then three weeks for the World Championship.

“Losing weight has helped me massively, I couldn’t get my cue through, I was standing out of the way on shots, although I didn’t realise it.

“From 40 to 54, I slowly got bigger each year. I train and don’t eat any rubbish now, and have kept my weight off. The crazy days are long gone, even the thought of them makes me tired.”

That last line brings a smile to his face, incongruous with the larger than life White persona – he has previously admitted to having a drugs problem in the Eighties – which made him a household name.

But everything changes with time. Even snooker, with last month’s Shoot Out bringing a Twenty20-style cricket approach to the green baize. The sort of snooker which should be perfect for the Whirlwind.

“I like the Shoot Out, it’s a different format, but very difficult to win,” said the left-hander.

White’s off-table preparations for Sheffield have hardly been ideal.

His London apartment was gutted last month in a fire, which destroyed all of his personal possessions, including valuable paintings from close friend and Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood.

Thankfully, no-one was injured in the blaze, and White’s prized snooker memorabilia was locked away in storage for safe keeping.

In another piece of good fortune, White’s cue was packed in his car, ahead of a playing trip to Germany.

“My apartment caught on fire the day before I went to Germany,” said the London-born potter.

“I lost everything, personal possessions, pictures of family, paintings that Ronnie Wood did for me.

“It was heartbreaking. But the main thing was no-one was injured.

“There was a young family above me, an old lady is a neighbour, and, thankfully, they were okay.

“All my snooker stuff was in storage, so I was lucky with that,” said White.

“I went to practice, I was getting a flight that morning, and luckily enough I had a suitcase packed – with my passport and credit cards – in the car. I was lucky.”

White returns to Sheffield next week needing to win three qualifying games at the city’s Ponds Forge centre to earn a Crucible spot.

He confirmed: “I am really looking forward to Sheffield this year. I have not felt this good for 20 years, so fingers crossed.

“There’s a lot of work to do between now and then, but it’s all going in the right direction.

“There’s some great players in the qualifiers, but I am just looking forward to it.”