Jimmy White has opened up on his ADHD diagnosis – the snooker legend saying he wish he’d known about it sooner.
The 62-year-old, who has won two Majors during his lengthy career, revealed he was diagnosed with the condition two years ago.
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The London-born star revealed he is now being treated for his ADHD.
He said on Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips podcast: “I’m gonna give you an exclusive.
“I got diagnosed with ADHD about two years ago.
“I’ve had to work. With ADHD you think about 15 things at once. So I’m now down to sort of like normal.
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“I have to be medicated and all that and it’s completely changed my life.”
Nicknamed ‘The Whirlwind’, White began his professional career in 1980, and was known for his rapid breaks and no-nonsense style at the table.
However, White wishes that he was aware that he had ADHD earlier in his life.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), causes sufferers to be impulsive and have a short attention span, according to the NHS.
He continued: “When you’re under pressure, looking back all these things were going through my mind and all of a sudden I’m starting to miss everything.
“The pockets are closing up as I’m hitting them and the balls are getting like footballs.
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“That for me now, looking back, if I’d known what I had I’d have been able to refocus better. That was a big thing.”
White has previously opened up on his battles with drink and drugs, including an addiction to crack when he was a young player – a habit which he says ‘drained’ £35,000 from his bank account.
White told Louis Theroux’s documentary Gods of Snooker: “Cocaine was absolutely everywhere.
“It was like the devil’s dandruff, but crack – it’s evil. I tried smoking it and got completely addicted.
“I remember I had £35,000 in an account and I drained that on crack.”
In an interview with The Sun, White added: “It’s impossible to say how much I used to drink in my wild days.
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“It was drink after drink and line after line and I’d go missing for days.
“It took 15 years to get sober and I don’t miss that life at all.”