Jimmy White

“I had such fun, even though I can't remember much.”

“That's the hardest part of the game. You've got to stay focused. With golf, make a mistake and you get another shot straight away; but with snooker you could be five minutes before you get another chance.”

“I grew up in south London and spent most of my adolescence in the snooker halls of the area, turning professional at 17.”

“I play golf but very badly.”

“My dad was a coalman and was always playing snooker with his mates.”

“First thing about snooker, find a cue you're happy with. Then stick with it.”

“I've been gambling since the age of 12. Horses, dogs, dice, roulette, you name it.”

“Most gamblers do it for ego. It's not about winning or losing, it's about challenging your ego and showing your mates you're fearless and will bet on anything.”

“Ronnie O'Sullivan, the greatest snooker player ever, will tell you that he doesn't practise. I'm not having that. I call him Roger, after Federer, because he's a genius. He doesn't like that nickname.”

“I have been tamed. My party days are well and truly behind me.”

“I love playing in Ireland and I've had great support here, like I get everywhere.”

“The people in China love their snooker. We get a fantastic reception when we go over there.”

“Certain styles of play take a bit longer.”

“To be honest, most of my troubles - bankruptcy, drinking, gambling - were self-inflicted.”

“Listen, I could have won the World Championship. Obviously if I had the chance to do it all again I would do things differently. But then would I have still wanted to play?”

“The Queen is a true professional and calmly pinned my MBE on.”

“If I ever leave home without my insoles, I send someone for them because after a day the pain starts to return.”

“One of my great heroes was my brother. You couldn't have dreamt of a better one.”

“I have only prepared properly for the World Championship three or four times in my life. If I had gone about it professionally I would have won the title 10 times.”

“Everyone wants to be with someone.”