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. White - known affectionately as The Whirlwind - found fame in the 1980s and became a firm fan favourite on the baize.
![[Jimmy White of England during a snooker match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/jimmy-white-england-reacts-first-958016956_cb8ee2.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
A two-time Major winner, the Tooting native has revealed he is now being medically treated for the condition. "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. 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. Most World Titles (modern era). 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.
