Jimmy White

Everyone at BCE is delighted to continue our connection with this ever-popular player. Father of five White has been runner-up at the Crucible six times, including a heart-breaking 18-17 defeat to Stephen Hendry in his last appearance in the Final in 1994. But his career boasts many highlights, including victory in the 1984 Masters and the 1992 UK Championship as well as a 147 break at the Crucible in 1992.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

How can you quantify the value of a player like Ronnie? Snooker’s most naturally gifted player, Ronnie has won 18 ranking titles – only Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis have won more. He has twice been world champion – in 2001 and 2004. He has made the five fastest 147s on record and is the only player to make two maximums at the Crucible. His hobbies include playing golf and he is also a keen footballer playing for the Arsenal celebrity team as well as the Soccer Aid project, which raised money for UNICEF. Ronnie’s partner Jo gave birth to their first child, a daughter called Lilly, in February 2006.

Oliver Ortmann

Twice World Pool Champion and over 250 times a tournament winner, still has many years of top-quality pool in front of him. Oliver was once described as being like a vintage bottle of wine: medium bodied with a hint of the unexpected, improving with age. He is a master in Europe and continues to turn in exceptional performances when competing in the USA.

 

John Higgins

Considered one of snooker’s greatest ever match-players, John’s outstanding break-building and tactical skills have helped him to 18 ranking titles, putting him third on the list of all time. He first won the World Championship in 1998 when, aged just 22, he managed an 18-12 victory over Ken Doherty at the Crucible. He had to wait 9 years for his next win, beating Mark Selby in a nail biting final in 2007. John has made five competitive 147 breaks, including two in consecutive matches – one in the 2003 LG Cup final and the next in the first round of the subsequent British Open. A devoted fan of Celtic, John’s other hobbies include playing golf and poker. He enjoys gourmet food and cooking and appeared alongside Shaun Murphy on BBC show Ready Steady Cook. He and wife Denise have two sons – Pierce and Oliver.