JIMMY WHITE has opened up on the medical diagnosis that changed his life – and wishes he’d known sooner.
The charismatic snooker legend, 62, was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago.
GettyJimmy White has revealed he has been diagnosed with ADHD[/caption]
GettyThe snooker legend has been open about his battle with drink and drugs[/caption]
White – known affectionately as The Whirlwind – found fame in the 1980s and became a firm fan favourite on the baize.
A two-time Major winner, the Tooting native has revealed he is now being medically treated for the condition.
White told Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips podcast: “I’m gonna give you an exclusive.
“I got diagnosed with ADHD about two years ago.
“I’ve had to work. With ADHD you think about fifteen things at once.
“So I’m now down to sort of like normal.
“I have to be medicated and all that and it’s completely changed my life.”
White was known for his rapid breaks and no-nonsense style at the table.
But he admits he wishes he’d known about his ADHD sooner.
The condition – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – causes sufferers to be impulsive and have a short attention span, according to the NHS.
White continued: “When you’re under pressure, looking back all these things were going through my mind and all of a sudden I’m starting to miss everything.
“The pockets are closing up as I’m hitting them and the balls are getting like footballs.
“That for me now, looking back, if I’d known what I had I’d have been able to refocus better. That was a big thing.”
White has also been open about his battles with drink and drugs.
The Whirlwind struggled with an addiction to crack when he was a young star.
And he admits the habit “drained” his bank account of over £35,000.
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 – John Spencer
1970 – Ray Reardon
1971 – John Spencer
1972 – Alex Higgins
1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
1977 – John Spencer (2)
1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
1983 – Steve Davis (2)
1984 – Steve Davis (3)
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis (4)
1988 – Steve Davis (5)
1989 – Steve Davis (6)
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams (2)
2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins (2)
2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
2009 – John Higgins (3)
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins (4)
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby (2)
2017 – Mark Selby (3)
2018 – Mark Williams (3)
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
2021 – Mark Selby (4)
2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
2023 – Luca Brecel
2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 – Alex Higgins
White told Louis Theroux‘s documentary Gods of Snooker: “Cocaine was absolutely everywhere.
“It was like the devil’s dandruff, but crack – it’s evil. I tried smoking it and got completely addicted.
“I remember I had £35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack.”
Jimmy added to The Sun on Sunday: “It’s impossible to say how much I used to drink in my wild days.
“It was drink after drink and line after line and I’d go missing for days.
“It took 15 years to get sober and I don’t miss that life at all.”
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
