WHITE TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS IN EPSOM

In more Jimmy White news, the Whirlwind found himself in the headlines of the Epsom local paper during Masters week.

Making the regular trip from one of his practice bases to Alexandra Palace, White took the opportunity to drop off some dry cleaning on Epsom High Street.

But next to a picture that appeared to show White’s car with its distinctive ‘CUE BOY’ registration plate parked on a double yellow line outside the shop was a story featuring quotes from irate pedestrian Simon Mayston who had contacted the publication.

Mr Mayston said: “Jimmy White was driving down the High Street through Epsom and then pulled over and mounted the pavement just after the traffic light crossroads at Waterloo Road.

“He proceeded slowly along that top bit of the High Street, and parked outside the dry cleaners on the double yellow.

“He got out to pick up some dry cleaning and then drove off - probably there for no more than five minutes.

“It just irritated me that he parked on the pavement, particularly as we - that is myself, my wife and my four-year-old son - were walking along that stretch of the pavement.

“My son was riding his scooter, and we had to make sure he got out of the way of the car. The number plate is recognisable. Jimmy White lives just up the road by the station. It would have irritated me whoever the driver was.”

White, characteristically, shrugged off what must have been an overwhelming temptation to brand his tormentor a busybody with a camera phone and opted instead to see the funny side of the incident. “I thought he was a fan!” he said in the media centre on Tuesday.

EXTRA SEATS JUST ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE

Much credit should go to the crew setting up the new and larger arena for the Masters at Alexandra Palace. The extra 200 seats, bringing the capacity to around 1,700, could easily have had a ‘bolted-on’ feel with the decision having been made late in the day to cope with demand.

But the extra space was as if designed and really enhanced the amphitheatre and potential for atmosphere, helped and brought to life by the excellent crowds flocking in to watch the early drama on day one as Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby served up their classic, and Marco Fu chipped in with his magnificent maximum break.

WHIRLWIND BREEZES INTO ALLY PALLY

Jimmy White usually drops in at the Masters at least once every year, but he was an even more regular face around the Alexandra Palace venue this year as an ambassador for tournament sponsors Dafabet.

In a large advert in the official programme the Whirlwind, who won the title 31 years ago at the Wembley Conference Centre with a 9-5 victory over Terry Griffiths, shared top billing with former Portugal, Barcelona and Real Madrid football legend Luis Figo – another of the company’s sporting figureheads.

It is not the first time Figo has cropped up in a snooker context. A couple of years ago at the Shanghai Masters a Real Madrid legends XI were staying at the same hotel as the snooker players the night Ding Junhui won in 2013. Ding, on his way to the celebration dinner, was keen to shake Figo by the hand and after some prompting from a lackey the player, realising the man in front of him was being as mobbed by fans as he was but none the wise as to his identity, happily obliged.

After this season’s inaugural Lisbon Open, perhaps a few more in Portugal are up to speed on their snooker stars.

WOOLLASTON LEFT ON THE SIDELINES

Matt Selt’s win in Group Two of the Championship League after being a late call-up to plug a gap in the seven-man line-up was a heartwarming tale…except possibly for Ben Woollaston.

The Leicester player was one of those that might technically have got the call ahead of Selt on rankings position, and was left underwhelmed by being passed over.

Selt’s ultimate victory and passage into the winners’ group continued his recent good form but is unlikely to have made world No36 Woollaston feel any better about the situation.