Jimmy White has thrown his support behind Ronnie O'Sullivan to secure a historic eighth World Championship crown at the Crucible, and the snooker legend is providing his friend with top-class practice facilities to help make it happen.
The 63-year-old, who reached six Crucible finals during his career, expects O'Sullivan to visit his venue, the Jimmy White Sports Lounge near Woking Football Club, in the coming weeks.
White told The Sun: "He will come in and practice because the facilities there are top draw."
The club boasts a Star snooker table, considered among the finest available, where the seven-time world champion can prepare for his Sheffield campaign.
O'Sullivan, now 50 and residing in Dubai, must carefully manage his UK visits due to tax considerations.
The Rocket demonstrated flashes of his trademark brilliance at the World Open in Yushan, where he compiled a remarkable 153 break in the quarter-finals – a world record achieved through a free ball – before falling to Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the final.
White expressed his delight at O'Sullivan's current form, saying "You know, you have got to make him favourite to get his eighth world title."
Jimmy White has thrown his support behind Ronnie O'Sullivan to secure a historic eighth World Championship crown at the Crucible, and the snooker legend is providing his friend with top-class practice facilities to help make it happen
|PA
He dismissed concerns about the player's age, adding: "People are going well, he's 50 years old.
"But he's the fittest guy on the circuit. He's super fit and he's playing some really fabulous stuff."
White acknowledged the depth of competition, noting: "The world championship is very open and very exciting. There are at least ten people who can win it."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Five quirky facts about snooker | PAThe Crucible's future as the home of snooker's premier event was secured last week when confirmation came that Sheffield would host the World Championship until at least 2045, with the possibility of extending that arrangement to 2050.
The announcement followed a significant agreement between the World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council, which will see 500 additional seats installed by 2030.
The deal has allayed concerns that the tournament might be relocated to China or Saudi Arabia by Matchroom boss Barry Hearn.
White, who first competed at the World Championship in 1981, welcomed the news enthusiastically.
"Is it a good thing snooker stays at the Crucible? Absolutely," he said. "Certain things can't be bought."
White drew parallels with the expansion work undertaken at Wimbledon, suggesting the Crucible improvements would follow a similar approach to accommodate growing demand while preserving the venue's character.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is chasing a record eighth World Snooker Championship title
|GETTY
"What they have done to Wimbledon, where they extended it, so it could cater for everybody," he said.
"Well, they're doing it now in the Crucible because snooker has been very good to Sheffield. And Sheffield's been very good to snooker."
The six-time finalist insisted the additional seating would not diminish the venue's famous atmosphere when play reaches the single-table stage.
"Adding 500 seats won't change the pit atmosphere when it gets down to one table at the Crucible," White explained, though he acknowledged that backstage areas are "very tired" and require upgrading.