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Jimmy White has told skysports that he believes 2006 will finally be the year that he will lift the World Championship at The Crucible.
The 43-year-old is a huge crowd favourite, but he has never been able to convert his immense ability into a world title.
The Whirlwind has come agonisingly close to lifting snooker's biggest prize, with six final appearances in Sheffield, but he has always come up just short.
Stephen Hendry has been his main nemesis beating White in four of those finals, including coming from 14-8 down to win 18-14 in 1992, while he also broke White's heart in 1994 by winning 18-17.
Snooker fans would dearly love White to lift the title and despite his advancing years, he has insisted that he still has what it takes to win the world title.
White is gearing up for the Masters at Wembley, but insisted his main aim in 2006 is to finally become world champion, and he is confident that he can fulfil his dream.
"I'm absolutely looking forward to the Masters," White told skysports.com.
"I know people say this every year but I've got a new mental approach for this year.
"But my main aim this season is to win the World Championship - I've decided to win it this year.
"And I'll do that by putting in a different approach in my practice."
White faces Grand Prix champion John Higgins in the first round of the Masters, but with his home crowd at Wembley always firmly behind him, he always fancies his chances.
"The Masters is a great tournament to win because it's an invitational. For me it's one of the greatest tournaments in the world in a one-table situation and it's in London which is the only tournament to be held in London.
"It's a great tournament to be involved in but my eye is firmly on the World Championship, although if I could win the Masters I would of course be delighted."
Steve Davis has already showed that age is no barrier to success after he reached the UK Championship final in York, but White won a ranking event in 2004 - the Daily Record Players Championship - and says that it proved he can still win tournaments.
"I've never ever wanted Davis to win a match before but I did in York," added White.
"I just think in the final that he changed his game and went into his shell a bit, and that could have cost him.
"But I won a ranking event last year so in my heart I know that I can still win tournaments.
"And it's going to be the World Championship this year, I've decided."
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Source: Sky Sports |
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