Snooker legend Jimmy White relocates to Hong Kong
Snooker icon Jimmy White has become the third major British cue sport star to leave these shores for Hong Kong, securing residency through the territory’s Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, reports BritPanorama.
The 64-year-old, affectionately known as ‘The Whirlwind’, follows the footsteps of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump, both of whom obtained Hong Kong residency via the same immigration pathway in 2024.
White’s relocation was confirmed by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, which announced that the veteran has received his identity card. This move signifies another departure of a beloved British sporting figure to Asia, continuing a trend of top snooker talents establishing bases outside the traditional heartlands of England.
White’s career spans an extraordinary 47 consecutive professional seasons, during which he amassed 10 ranking titles and solidified his reputation as one of the most entertaining players on the circuit. He is widely regarded as the finest player never to have lifted the World Championship trophy, suffering defeat in six finals at the Crucible, with his first heartbreak occurring against Steve Davis in 1984.
Most recently, the veteran reached the final of last year’s British Senior Open, finishing as runner-up. Instead of merely winding down his playing days, White aims to establish a snooker academy in Hong Kong, tasked with nurturing the territory’s upcoming talent.
Speaking to the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s Instagram channel, White outlined his ambitions: “My plan in Hong Kong is to maybe open a snooker academy and find the snooker talent of Hong Kong, promote snooker as much as I can.”
He noted that Hong Kong is a hub for snooker in Asia, stating, “This is a snooker hub. Snooker in Asia started in Hong Kong and now it’s looking as big as ever.” Beyond snooker, White expressed his desire to reconnect with actor Stephen Chow Sing-chi, with whom he starred in the 1991 film *Legend of the Dragon*.
“Now I have become a Hong Kong resident, I am going to try looking for my old friend,” he said, referencing the film where he played himself alongside the celebrated actor.
Whether White will spend significant time in Hong Kong remains uncertain, given the examples of his fellow émigrés. Trump, the 2019 world champion, has made Dubai his primary residence but returns to Hong Kong periodically. Similarly, O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, divides his time between Dubai and Dublin rather than the territory that granted him residency.
Hong Kong’s director of immigration, Benson Kwok, directly addressed O’Sullivan’s situation: “He really likes Hong Kong, so if there are things here that can entice him to stay, he might just choose Hong Kong as his place of residence.” Kwok acknowledged that O’Sullivan’s circumstances have been fluid but maintained that the snooker great has not abandoned Hong Kong entirely.
As White embarks on this new chapter, the evolution of his career underscores a broader trend in modern sport: the allure of new frontiers and opportunities across the globe, where even the most storied figures of a sport chart unexpected courses in pursuit of legacy and connection.
