Tony Drago Reflects on Decades of Snooker Practice with Jimmy White
Tony Drago holds cherished memories of his extensive practice sessions with snooker legend Jimmy White. The two players frequently crossed paths throughout the 1980s and 1990s, forging a lasting friendship that extended beyond the competitive arena. White hailed from London, while Drago resided in the capital as he pursued his professional snooker career away from his native Malta. This geographical proximity naturally led to numerous intense practice matches on the snooker table.
Daily Practice Routines and Friendly Wagers
"Jimmy and I practiced for at least 25 years, maybe every day in London," Drago recalls vividly. "He’s from London and I lived in London. We would play £20 a frame." Their sessions typically involved playing a minimum of two frames and a maximum of three. Drago explains, "We played three frames but sometimes if it was scrappy and we'd both be getting bored with it we sometimes played two frames. We always played a minimum two frames, maximum three."
Competitive History and Mutual Respect
Drago and White faced each other fifteen times in official competitive matches, with White emerging victorious on eight occasions. Notable wins for White included a 10-6 triumph in the 1991 World Masters and a 10-4 success in the 1992 World Championship. However, their practice sessions were often much closer contests. "Sometimes he won, sometimes I won," Drago continues. "Usually we always took a frame from each other. It was great practice for me and for Jimmy as well. We always gave each other a good game. We both got on with it and I think we both enjoyed playing against each other."
Current Careers and Ongoing Dedication
While Drago now focuses on the World Seniors Snooker circuit, with its championship commencing on May 6, White remains active on the professional tour. This year, White narrowly missed qualifying for the Crucible, losing 10-9 to Gao Yang in the first qualifying round. Gao subsequently reached the final stage of qualification before being defeated by Hossein Vafaei.
Drago expresses admiration for his old friend's enduring passion and commitment to the sport. "Jimmy might not be winning titles, but if he says something it’s because he believes it," he states. "Fair play to him. If he believes it, why not? I’m sure Jimmy wouldn’t say something like that if he didn’t believe it. Although it’s not happened, he still believes it. Good luck to him."
Drago adds, "I don’t see much of Jimmy these days because I live in Malta, but everyone says to me that he’s still great in practice and sometimes he does play great matches. But being realistic there are so many players now and it’s more difficult."
Upcoming Tournament and Industry Support
Both Drago and White will compete at the World Seniors Championship next month, where White aims to reclaim the title he last won in 2023. The snooker community continues to receive support from partners like Midnite, the UK betting and casino partner of the World Snooker Championships, which promotes the sport's growth through innovative activations during the seventeen-day championship.
