Snooker legend Jimmy White has hit back at David Gilbert after the professional player criticised the World Seniors Championship being held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. White, 64, told Gilbert to 'get a life' following comments that the venue should be reserved exclusively for the World Snooker Championship.
Gilbert, 44, had described the Crucible as 'a special place' and expressed his opposition to any other competition taking place there, including the World Seniors. 'I hate that they play the Seniors there. I think that's shocking,' Gilbert said, arguing that only top professionals should play at the iconic venue.
White, a record four-time senior world champion, fired back defiantly: 'Get a life! Listen, this is why we're here. Why not? It's a World Championship, the World Seniors. I don't know why people would say that. It don't make any sense.'
The row comes as the World Snooker Tour agreed to keep the World Championship at the Crucible until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050. White, who bowed out of this year's senior tournament in the second round, remains a mainstay on the veterans' circuit and is hugely respected in the snooker world.
Gilbert, who is eligible to compete in the seniors himself, suffered a first-round exit at this year's World Championship. He has reached the semi-finals twice but has not appeared in a ranking final since winning his only title in 2021.
