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Jimmy "The Whirlwind" White - Snooker Player

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Six times an Embassy World Championship runner-up, no one has experienced more heartbreak in Sheffield than Jimmy White. So it says a great deal for his character that he keeps coming back for more. The Londoner has been involved in some epic matches at the Crucible, notably when he lost to Alex Higgins in the 1982 semi-finals and a 13-12 victory over Hendry in the second round in 1988. The closet he has come to winning the game's biggest prize was in 1994 when he lost 18-17 to Stephen Hendry in the final. Everyone watching - including the holder believed White would be the champion until he failed to pot a black in the final frame with the victory ceremony beckoning. Hendry, in fact, had beaten him four times in the final and came from 14-8 behind to triumph 18-14 in 1992. Steve Davis (1984) and John Parrot (1991) are the other two players to have denied him the crowning glory at the Crucible. Despite those defeats, the father of five remains one of the games biggest crowd pullers and is affectionately known as "The People's Champion!" The 'Whirlwind' became the second player to compile a maximum break in the televised stages of the world championships in 1992, his 147 coming in his first round against Tony Drago. World amateur champion in 1980, he has won 22 major professional titles - nine of them ranking tournaments - during his career. They include the 1984 Masters and the 1992 UK Championship.

"Jimmy won Poker Million - The Masters champion 2003"

- The Masters champion 2003. Jimmy went into the six man final as 8/1 outsider, but clinched the prestigious title and £150,000 first prize, in the early hours of Saturday March 15, live in front of a huge Sky Sports 1 television audience. His luck seems to be changing for the better in the run up to the Embassy Snooker World Championships with two crucial wins on last card turns.

"I love playing poker. It's just great to win a big tournament against such class players. The buzz from playing and winning is similar to snooker, it's a fantastic feeling. Steve "The Nugget" Davis, was second man out in the final confessing "I didn't stand up (against bad cards) as I could've done...but I loved it nonetheless."

Jimmy is hoping to take part in the World Poker Championships in Las Vegas later in the year, with an incredible $3 million in prize money up for grabs.