Jimmy White played major snooker championship under a new name – and it’s all because of HP Sauce
JIMMY WHITE never quite tasted ultimate glory in snooker – but he did add flavour to his colourful career with a name change at a major tournament.
Cluedo fans might be impressed, too, as the best player never to win the world title altered his surname by deed poll to Brown… all because of HP Sauce!
The “People’s Champion” dished up the main course of HP’s sponsorship of the brown ball in snooker’s top events during 2005.
It didn’t go completely to plan, however, as the BBC refused to call him Brown due to issues over sponsorship.
The Whirlwind threatened legal action but it turned sour as the Beeb held their ground and World Snooker pointed out he had originally entered the tournament as “White”.
The 1992 UK Championship winner argued it was all harmless “fun”.
And he was even happy to swap his black tuxedo for a brown one.
White also managed to buck his poor form that year by pulling off two Masters comeback victories before losing 6-1 to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-finals.
The Rocket, of course, might be feeling a bit salty himself this year after missing out on an eighth world crown, thanks to Luca Brecel reeling off seven frames for a stunning quarter-final triumph.
But O’Sullivan won’t be regretting his temporary misfortune as much as White will be rueing his career record, as he lost all six of his world finals.
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The Tooting hero said on the eve of his name-change 18 years ago: “With a bit of luck, the name James Brown will be engraved on the Masters trophy at the end of next week.
“The sponsorship of the brown ball really puts the fun back into snooker and, given my previous surname, I wanted to follow that lead.
“I think it is also up to the players to help liven up snooker’s image and raise its profile, and I feel good to do my bit with the help of HP.”
The Whirlwind sent publicity soaring further still when he stormed back from 5-2 down against Matthew Stevens in his opener.
He eventually triumphed 6-5, producing dazzling potting and an incredible fluke in the final frame.
White then toppled Mark Williams by the same score after trailing 5-4.
But there was nothing left in the bottle for the HP Saucerer as next opponent O’Sullivan turned in a wizard display.