Alfie Burden reveals how Jimmy White helped keep his snooker career alive ahead of Q School – ‘Like family to me’

Alfie Burden has revealed how best friend Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White has inspired him to continue his professional snooker career at the highest level.

Burden will head back to Q School – the qualification process for the World Snooker Tour – for the second time in the past two years this week in an attempt to regain his access to the main circuit after finishing outside the top 64 in the world rankings.

He will need to emulate that display this year with eight cards available from this year’s 208-player Q School in Leicester, the first tournament of the new campaign.

Burden admits he is feeling positive about his prospects after reaching the final of the World Seniors final against fellow Londoner White at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield earlier this month.

“We try to help each other out with a few different things. He just won’t even hear any suggestions of me stopping playing. He is a brilliant person.

“I loved playing at the Crucible again, because I haven’t played there for many years. I think I played some great snooker.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t win it, but I don’t begrudge my mate Jimmy winning.

“Believe it or not, I felt very down after it. I wanted to win and felt I let my family down. I didn’t want to keep playing afterwards.

“I just didn’t feel like I had it in the tank to start practising and come back for Q School.

“I spoke to a couple of people and I’ve tried to get my head around it. I still feel I have a great game.

“It is hard for me to walk away when I think I am good enough, not just to be on the tour, but I still feel I’m good enough to compete.

“I know it was only the World Seniors, but some of the snooker I played showed what I am capable of.”

Burden first turned professional in 1994 with his highest ranking of 38 achieved 20 years ago.

He won the world amateur title in 2009 with a 10-8 win over Igor Figueiredo after dropping off the main tour a year earlier.

He will meet Aristos Pampouris or Neil Craycraft in his Q School opener, chasing five wins to regain his tour card at the Morningside Arena.

Event One runs from Friday 26 May until Wednesday 31 May with the second competition starting on Thursday 1 June until Tuesday 6 June.

“I have no doubt that my game is good enough to get back to the Crucible,” said Burden.

“However, I am under no illusions how tough Q School is. You could stick anyone in that format and they wouldn’t be a certainty. It is really tough.

“You need to go there, play well and probably have a bit of luck as well. It is a brutal format and only eight can get through.

“Without sounding big-headed I know I am one of the best there, but it doesn’t give you a divine right to come through it.

“I believe I would hit the ground running next season on the tour. I’m practising properly and have got used to my cue.

“I see my game coming to a level where I can compete. I suppose it would be quite emotional to get through again.

“I want to try to qualify and come into next season as a better person and a stronger player.”

10 to watch at Q School

• Michael Holt (Eng) – 2020 Shoot Out winner
• Bai Yulu (Chn) – 2023 Women’s World Championship runner-up
• Tony Knowles (Eng) – Two-time ranking event winner
• Alfie Burden (Eng) – 2023 World Seniors finalist
• Iulian Boiko (Ukr) – 2020 Six-Red European champion
• Peter Lines (Eng) – 2018 Paul Hunter classic semi-finalist
• Alexander Ursenbacher (Swi) – 2017 English Open semi-finalist
• Andrew Higginson (Eng) – 2007 Welsh Open finalist
• Gerard Greene (NI) – 2014 Players Championship finalist
• Robin Hull (Fin) – Three-time ranking event quarter-finalist

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