According to Daily Mirror - Main, Jimmy White described how Steve Davis's smirk during their peak rivalry made him want to hit Davis across the head with his cue, though he acknowledged Davis was so good despite this irritation. White said he had a rivalry with Davis that lasted for five or six years, which he considered quite healthy for the game. He noted that he never had any problems with Davis personally, as Davis was practising while White was partying, but playing Davis meant being in a war.
Turning to other champions, according to Daily Mirror - Main, White described Stephen Hendry as having the mettle and determination, being in his own bubble and focused during matches, with none of the crowd bothering him. In contrast, according to Daily Mirror - Main, White described Ronnie O'Sullivan as playing snooker in the most serious times of matches as if he's just practising. Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry were complete opposites away from the snooker table, according to multiple reports.
I think with Davis, he had that smirk. You wanted to hit him across the head with the cue. But he was so good.
Davis earned a reputation for being 'boring' compared to contemporaries like Jimmy White, who was famed for his excessive lifestyle. White, 63, continues on the World Snooker Tour, but he suffered defeat in the opening round of qualifying for the 2026 World Championship to Gao Yang. White and Davis will feature as pundits at the 2026 World Championship, with Davis for the BBC and White for TNT Sports.
The championship begins on Saturday morning, with Zhao Xintong defending the title he won last year. Ronnie O'Sullivan begins his quest for a record-breaking eighth world title on Tuesday.
For me, Hendry had the mettle and determination.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, for me, plays snooker in the most serious times of matches as if he's just practising. Hendry was a bit like that, he was in his own bubble. I'd play Hendry, he'd have none of the crowd, but it didn't bother him. He was so focused.
I quite liked it, me and Steve Davis. I was sort of wasting my time partying and he was practising, so I never had any problems with Steve. But you knew, if you were playing Steve Davis, you were going to be in a war. I had a rivalry with him that lasted for five or six years, and I think it was quite healthy for the game.