Jimmy White speaks out about his relationship with Steve Davis | Other | Sport

Snooker legend Jimmy White has spoken about his relationship with Steve Davis after the pair traded blows on the baize during the game’s heyday.

Davis and White clashed repeatedly on the table during the 1980s when both were at the height of their powers. Davis defeated White in the 1984 world final, one of six occasions White ended up as runner-up at the Crucible.

Davis secured several more final victories before the decade ended, though White triumphed over his opponent at the 1988 Canadian Masters. Despite the competitive nature of their encounters, White emphasises there was always mutual respect.

“Steve Davis and I always respected each other. It was only the red tops that made us rivals,” White said after his exhibition match vs Ken Doherty at the Midnite Lounge, a luxury area open to all fans attending the Masters. “We do exhibitions together, we travel in the same car. We’ve never had a problem with each other.”

White’s remarks follow Davis praising his former adversary back in December 2024, when he told Mirror Sport about his admiration for The Whirlwind. “For Jimmy to be competing and beating some of the top players in the world on a weekly basis is just fantastic. Long may it continue,” he said, describing White’s ability to remain competitive in his 60s as “amazing”.

“He knows full well he can have a really good match and then the next time it might not quite work, and that’s the frustration. You know you can produce it every now and again, but consistency is the problem as you get older. When he manages to put it together, it’s fantastic to watch.”

While White’s Masters appearance was confined to the exhibition clash with Doherty, some of the sport’s finest talent took centre stage at Alexandra Palace. Defending champion Shaun Murphy, however, endured a disappointing early departure, falling 6-2 to Wu Yize in the first round.

Wu will face last year’s runner-up Kyren Wilson in Saturday’s semi-final. The victor will then meet either Judd Trump or John Higgins in Sunday’s final.

Midnite, sponsors of the 2026 Masters, will be unveiling the Midnite Shuttle on Sunday ahead of the final, transporting fans from Alexandra Palace Station to the main entrance, saving them the arduous walk up the hill.

Driven by Ken Doherty, fans can gain access by showing the Midnite app on their mobile devices.