Provisional world ranking: 20

Age: 37

World Championship best: Runner-up 1984, 1990-94

Best ranking event performance: Winner of nine tournaments: Mercantile Credit Classic 1986, 1991; Grand Prix 1986, 1992; British Open 1987, 1992; BCE Canadian Masters 1988; European Open 1992; UK Championship 1992

1999/2000 ranking form: British - R3, Grand Prix - R4, UK - R5, China - Qual, Welsh - SF, Malta - R2, Thailand - R1, Scottish - R3.

Jimmy is the "People's Champion". He has lost in the final at Sheffield on no less than six times, with Stephen Hendry accounting for four of these defeats.

He has done all but win the world title, and perhaps will never come closer than his dramatic 18-17 defeat in 1994.

Jimmy was a member of England's Nation Cup winning side in January.

The Whirlwind arrives at the Crucible under a certain amount of pressure following a shock defeat by Marcus Campbell in the 3rd round of the Regal Scottish Open. White described his performance in that match as "diabolical" and he may need to win at least two matches at the Embassy to retain his place in the world's top 16.

Jimmy always shows great sportsmanship and has enjoyed some great moments this season. Playing some of his best snooker for a long time, a narrow 6-5 defeat by Stephen Lee in the Regal Welsh semi-final cost him his first ranking final appearance since that infamous 1994 final in Sheffield.

White inflicted revenge on Hendry in the 1998 World Championships by thrashing him 10-4. For a long time it looked as though Jimmy might at last reign victorious at the Crucible, only to lose 13-7 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last eight.

His army of fans who follow him across the globe will no doubt flock to Sheffield in April to see if Jimmy can fulfil his dream and become World Champion.