PAUL HUNTER'S MASTERS WINS 2001: bt Fergal O'Brien 10-9 2002: bt Mark Williams 10-9 2004: bt Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9

Hunter died in October aged 27 but World Snooker has decided against formally honouring him at the event.

"If I had it my way, I would definitely call it the Paul Hunter Masters Trophy," White told BBC Five Live.

"Paul Hunter should be associated with it. He's had three incredible wins," added the "Whirlind".

On Friday, the BBC Sport website reported on plans to honour the Leeds-born star away from the Masters, which starts on Sunday.

This year's German Open pro-am, an event in which Hunter returned to action after first being diagnosed with cancer in 2005, will be known as the Paul Hunter Classic in memory of the Englishman.

It is not a World Snooker event, although the sport's governing body has created an annual Paul Hunter scholarship.

606: DEBATE It's so disappointing snooker is not naming the Masters after Paul - there should be a petition to get it renamed LS 606: Have your say

But the Masters tournament - sponsored by Saga Insurance - will not change its name.

"We felt that a scholarship was the most fitting tribute to Paul," said a World Snooker spokesman, who also confirmed there were no plans to hold a minute's silence at Wembley Arena during the Masters.

White indicated he might raise the Hunter issue with World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker.

"You need to put the sponsor in there somewhere, so they do have a point, but we will have to wait and see when we get there," said "The Whirlwind".

Hunter became a crowd favourite by coming behind in three finals to win the Masters in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

He cheekily cited his 'Plan B', a dressing room break with then-fiancee Lindsey, as the reason for his improved form.

After the Englishman died of cancer, snooker fans and stars united in grief, with nearly all of the world's top players attending his funeral.

He was always up - he was a very strong character Jimmy White on Paul Hunter

Former world champions Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Parrott, Dennis Taylor, Mark Williams and John Higgins joined White among the mourners.

White, meanwhile, has slipped to 56th in the provisional world rankings after failing to qualify for the Welsh Open.

The Masters is a non-ranking invitational event, but he hopes for a return to form against Welshman Matthew Stevens in the preliminary round on Sunday.

"I've been struggling with the qualifying. I've lost a couple of close matches, but I'm hitting the ball OK," said the Londoner.

"The Masters is very special to me because it's in London. I've put in a lot of work. Hopefully, I can produce a bit of form."

White, six times a world championship runner-up, insists he will not drop out of the top 64.

"I'm far too good, I'm good enough to win the world championship. I've worked as hard as I ever have and I'm really enjoying it," he said.

"The only time I'll stop playing snooker is when I can't see the end of the table."