Snooker legend Jimmy White once legally changed his name as part of a sponsorship deal during the 2005 Masters.
‘The Whirlwind’ switched his identity overnight, becoming Jimmy Brown due to a collaboration with HP Sauce.
The makers of the British brown sauce had already agreed a deal to sponsor the brown ball during the tournament and took it one step further by convincing White to change his surname to Brown by deed poll.
But the events’ broadcasters the BBC and World Snooker had other ideas and were quick to dismiss the marketing ploy, claiming White must continue to use his original name as that was how he was referred to at the beginning of the tournament.
But White was in no mood to play ball and decided to embrace his new name in the hope that it would bring about a new level of success.
He even swapped his trademark tuxedo for a brown ensemble for the Wembley showpiece, hoping the new approach would have a positive impact on his performances.
White said: “With a bit of luck, the name James Brown will be engraved on the Masters trophy at the end of next week.
“I think it is also up to the players to help liven up snooker’s image and raise its profile, and I feel good to do my bit with the help of HP.”
White’s new identity appeared to be working in the opening stages having fought back from 5-2 down to beat Matt Stevens 6-5.
Mark Williams was next up for the HP inspired icon in the quarter-finals and despite trailing 5-4, White produced an inspiring comeback.
But his good fortune eventually ran out in a semi-final clash for the ages against Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Having not won the Masters since triumphing in 1984, White was swept aside by The Rocket 6-1, with O’Sullivan going on to beat John Higgins 10-3 in the final.
White holds a reputable list of accomplishments in snooker with ten titles to his name.
However, he is also remembered for his six defeats in world championship finals between 1984 and 1994.
He scooped the first of his four World Seniors Championship titles in 2010, with a 4-1 win over Steve Davis in the final.
The 62-year-old recently revealed that he plans to continue competing after entering his 45th year as a professional.
The snooker icon admits he is grateful to be in a position to continue playing, during an appearance on Stephen Hendry’s YouTube channel.
He said: “For me to still be able to play and compete now is like a godsend.
GettyWhite is now a four time World Seniors champion[/caption]
“I’m going to play for another three years and if I don’t win a tournament, I’m going to stop. I’m 62. People think ‘why are you doing it? You’re nuts’.”
After his recent announcement that he suffers the effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), White revealed that his concentration at the table has long been been impaired.
“I’m trying to work on the mental side,” White remarked. “I get myself so at it because you play so well practising.
“But all of a sudden you cannot pot a ball. You love the pressure because that’s half the buzz.
“Not so much now because of this ADHD situation, but I could be playing, and a voice will say to me: ‘Did you water the plants before you left home?’
“I’m playing one of the hardest games in the world, a geezer is trying to beat me and I’ve got this voice.
“For me, it is concentration. It is more difficult as you get older. If you can close that in, practice and enjoy competing.”
He continued: “I’ve had to work. With ADHD you think about 15 things at once. I have to be medicated and all that, and it’s completely changed my life.”