Following "The Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan, current world number one Judd Trump, and "The Thunder from Down Under" Neil Robertson, another snooker legend has become a Hong Kong resident. The Immigration Department announced on social media on August 12 that British snooker great Jimmy White, known as "The Whirlwind," has formally settled in Hong Kong through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS).
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
Now 64, White was born in London. His career has been illustrious: he was a six-time runner-up at the World Snooker Championship and won 10 ranking titles, and his fast, flowing style earned him the nickname "The Whirlwind." He revealed that he hopes to open a snooker school in Hong Kong to nurture local snooker talent and bring new momentum to the sport in the city.
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Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
White has long-standing ties with Hong Kong. Last year, when Hong Kong hosted the World Grand Prix snooker tournament for the first time, he and Hong Kong star Marco Fu faced each other at Kai Tak Arena, giving local snooker fans plenty to savour.
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
Asked who he most wants to reunite with now that he's a Hong Kong resident, White joked that he would look up an "old friend" — Stephen Chow. The reference is to the 1991 comedy Legend of the Dragon, in which White appeared as himself and shared a snooker showdown with Chow on screen. That cameo made him a familiar face to a generation of Hong Kong filmgoers. Now that he has settled in the city, fans will be watching to see whether the two "old friends" cross paths again.
Photo source: ins@hongkongimmigrationdept
