Born: 2 May 1962 Nationality: English Seeded: 10 World ranking: 10 Career earnings: �4,117,289 Ranking points: 21,637 Crucible best: Runner-up (1984 & 1990-1994)

He turned professional 22 years ago and has since enjoyed a huge following due to his brand of exciting play and sportsmanship.

Unfortunately, this silver lining has a cloud, White's being his failure to have won the World Championship.

He has played in six finals and lost them all, five in a row from 1990.

His first final came in 1984 when he lost to Steve Davis and his last came a decade later.

That defeat to Stephen Hendry, his fourth against the Scot, came in the final frame, but was far less devastating than the defeat two years earlier.

In 1992, White led Hendry 14-8 but lost 10 frames in a row, and with it another chance to lay his hands on the world crown was gone.

Despite the defeats, his achievements in the sport mark him as one of the best, although he had to wait until April's Regal Scottish for a first ranking win this season.

This year at The Crucible, White came unstuck against Stephen Lee, but the Whirlwind holds on to his top 16 placing next season by virtue of reaching the second round.