‘What a terrible shame’ – Jimmy White forced to apologise over petulant act that shocked fans
Jimmy White once had to issue a grovelling apology after smashing the cue-ball off the black at the World Snooker Championship. The angry outburst came during a second round clash between snooker veteran White and Wales’ Matthew Stevens at the Crucible back in 2002. Jimmy White remains an active figure on the World Snooker TourGetty After a series of missed opportunities, the ‘Whirlwind’ found his frustrations mounting at the end of the first session. And when White spurned what should have been a routine pot on the black, he was unable to keep a lid on his emotions. With the frame still all to play for, the Englishman angrily smashed the moving cue ball into the black, sending both balls flying off the table. White instantly conceded the frame as a result, leaving him 6-2 down, despite having been just six points behind with three reds remaining. Footage of the incident showed him quickly shaking Stevens’ hand before hurrying off backstage, while the punditry team were left stunned with the Londoner’s rare show of emotion. The match commentator could be heard expressing his disbelief at the events as he said: “Jimmy’s entitled to be a little bit frustrated. “I’ve never in the history seen Jimmy White do that. I’ve never ever seen it. “He’s so frustrated. What a terrible shame that Jimmy knows he’s playing well and unfortunately the emotions have got the better of him there. He later reiterated: “It’s a shame that the session’s had to end like that.” Fellow pundit and former world champion Ken Doherty was also shocked by White’s outburst, who also insisted it was completely out of character. Credit: YouTube: @benj9996Jimmy White’s frustration began when he missed a pot on the black ball[/caption] Credit: YouTube: @benj9996The Whirlwind reacted angrily, smashing the cue ball as it returned to him[/caption] Credit: YouTube: @benj9996He conceded the final frame as a result, and promptly headed off backstage after his outburst[/caption] He said: “I’ve never seen anything like that. “I remember Patsy Fagan, I think, did the same when a white was going in, he hit the ball on the run. “But it’s very uncharacteristic for Jimmy.” And White was quick to apologise for his actions, as he made it clear he regretted his brief loss of control when he returned the next day. He said in a statement: “I would like to apologise for the way I reacted at the end of the first session of my second round match against Matthew Stevens. “It was caused by sheer frustration and was completely out of character. I can’t believe what I did. I don’t even do that in practice.” GettyDespite being a six-time World Snooker Championship finalist, Jimmy White was unable to advance past the second round in 2002[/caption] GettyHis victorious opponent Stevens ultimately reached the semi-finals at the Crucible that year[/caption] “I wish to apologise to Matthew, all my fans and the viewers on BBC television.” Unfortunately for White, he was unable to rediscover his best form in time to rescue his Crucible campaign He went on to lose 13-3, as he was unable to reach a seventh World Snooker Championship final. The cueist’s 2002 tournament appearance was amongst a string of first and second-round exits in Sheffield, with the peak of his career coming in the late 1980s and early 1990s. White has finished as runner-up at snooker’s showpiece event on six occasions- the first of which came in 1984, and the last in 1994. He has won 10 ranking titles in his 45-year professional career, including two of the sport’s triple crown events, with victory in the 1984 Masters and the 1992 UK Championship. GettyJimmy White was ranked as highly as world number two at the peak of his career[/caption] Despite his best days being behind him, White remains an active player at the age of 63. Last month, he lost in the second round of qualifying for this year’s World Championship, meaning he has now not featured at the event since 2006.
Jimmy White once had to issue a grovelling apology after smashing the cue-ball off the black at the World Snooker Championship.
The angry outburst came during a second round clash between snooker veteran White and Wales’ Matthew Stevens at the Crucible back in 2002.
After a series of missed opportunities, the ‘Whirlwind’ found his frustrations mounting at the end of the first session.
And when White spurned what should have been a routine pot on the black, he was unable to keep a lid on his emotions.
With the frame still all to play for, the Englishman angrily smashed the moving cue ball into the black, sending both balls flying off the table.
White instantly conceded the frame as a result, leaving him 6-2 down, despite having been just six points behind with three reds remaining.
Footage of the incident showed him quickly shaking Stevens’ hand before hurrying off backstage, while the punditry team were left stunned with the Londoner’s rare show of emotion.
The match commentator could be heard expressing his disbelief at the events as he said: “Jimmy’s entitled to be a little bit frustrated.
“I’ve never in the history seen Jimmy White do that. I’ve never ever seen it.
“He’s so frustrated. What a terrible shame that Jimmy knows he’s playing well and unfortunately the emotions have got the better of him there.
He later reiterated: “It’s a shame that the session’s had to end like that.”
Fellow pundit and former world champion Ken Doherty was also shocked by White’s outburst, who also insisted it was completely out of character.
He said: “I’ve never seen anything like that.
“I remember Patsy Fagan, I think, did the same when a white was going in, he hit the ball on the run.
“But it’s very uncharacteristic for Jimmy.”
And White was quick to apologise for his actions, as he made it clear he regretted his brief loss of control when he returned the next day.
He said in a statement: “I would like to apologise for the way I reacted at the end of the first session of my second round match against Matthew Stevens.
“It was caused by sheer frustration and was completely out of character. I can’t believe what I did. I don’t even do that in practice.”
“I wish to apologise to Matthew, all my fans and the viewers on BBC television.”
Unfortunately for White, he was unable to rediscover his best form in time to rescue his Crucible campaign
He went on to lose 13-3, as he was unable to reach a seventh World Snooker Championship final.
The cueist’s 2002 tournament appearance was amongst a string of first and second-round exits in Sheffield, with the peak of his career coming in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
White has finished as runner-up at snooker’s showpiece event on six occasions- the first of which came in 1984, and the last in 1994.
He has won 10 ranking titles in his 45-year professional career, including two of the sport’s triple crown events, with victory in the 1984 Masters and the 1992 UK Championship.
Despite his best days being behind him, White remains an active player at the age of 63.
Last month, he lost in the second round of qualifying for this year’s World Championship, meaning he has now not featured at the event since 2006.
