Whirlwind back up to speed
Jimmy White told skysports.com he has what it takes to climb back up the rankings this season.
By Paul Higham
Last Updated: 19/09/10 4:32pm
Veteran cueman Jimmy White is still going strong and, as he prepares for the first big ranking event in the UK, he told skysports.com he feels he still has what it takes to climb back up the rankings this year.
The Whirlwind faces Paul Davison at the World Open in Glasgow on Sunday, which shows the first major change introduced by new snooker chief Barry Hearm, with the old Grand Prix being renamed and revamped.
All matches up until the final will be best-of-five frame shoot-outs at the Glasgow SECC in the tournament which runs from September 18 to 26, with also a random draw taking place for each round.
White believes the new format will create a more attacking style in matches with less safety play, and provide a lot more upsets.
Exciting
"This new format of first to five is going to be very quick, it's going to be like playing a 20 minute game of football," White told skysports.com in Glasgow. "But I supported Barry Hearn when he took over snooker and I think he's trying a good new format.
"Hopefully you'll see a lot of people taking a lot of chances so it should be a really exciting way of doing it.
"It would suit me in that you've got to try and attack, its only five frames, we think nine's too short really, but I think you'll see a lot of surprises so hopefully with the experience I've got and I'm playing well who knows."
White plays unheralded world number 86 Davison in the first round, but he is too experienced to take anyone too lightly in this short format.
"I know he's quite solid but there's no easy draws anymore, the days of easy draws have gone so I shall just treat him like I'm playing O'Sullivan really and give him 100 percent respect."
Hearn has certainly made an impression in snooker with many new tournaments and sponsors flooding into the game.
"I was managed twice by Barry," White added. "We had five years together then we had a break and then we had another five years.
"Even though he went into boxing and does a lot in darts he's got a lot of passion for snooker and I know he'll give it 110 percent, and he is the type of guy who when he puts his mind to it most times he's successful so if he can't do anything then snooker's in trouble
"But I do the tours in the clubs and exhibitions up and down the country, I make most of my money doing that, and they're packed all the time so the game's still getting bigger and you've got great new players coming through so I don't think we've got any problems."
One problem of late has been the betting scandal involving John Higgins, but Hearn is set to introduce a new Integrity Unit to stamp out such controversy in the future.
"It's all done and dusted now and we've got to move on, I don't think john Higgins is appealing so that will be it - but I haven't seen the video so I can't really comment on what I think.
"It's good Barry's bringing something in because it'll all be sorted out by the start of next season and everyone will know where they are, he'll be eager to stamp it out. So he'll get it done and we can all move on from there."
Revival
Back to matters on the table, and White feels a return to the top 32, he's currently in 66th in the rankings, is achievable - especially as the new rankings are updated more regularly meaning one good performance in a big event can help you through qualifying.
"Before Barry came on board there was only the world champs with a sponsor, so now he's put these options out there of new tournaments and we're going to tournaments such as in Germany and there's talk of tournaments in Brazil and all sorts and so far he's got a sponsor for every tournament so it's looking good.
"The rankings give everyone a chance. I'm practising really hard, I've just moved to a nice new club and I'm playing every day so my ambition this year is to get back into the top 32. I think that's achievable as I'm playing well enough."