Ronnie O’Sullivan is the best snooker player I have seen – besides myself, says Jimmy White

There was a surprise in the New Year’s honours list, not least for the recipient himself. Listed alongside some of the more expected sporting names – Tony McCoy, Chris Froome and Fara Williams – one leapt out. It was Ronnie O’Sullivan, a new Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Just like his hero Jimmy White (himself an MBE) and the late Alex Higgins, O’Sullivan has always seemed rather to stand outside of the establishment even if a towering 24-year contribution to professional snooker has actually made such recognition long overdue. White, naturally, is thrilled by the news and, while O’Sullivan did once say it would be “a disgrace” to give him a gong, he and his family were apparently delighted.

“I’m absolutely made up for him,” says White. “People appreciate anyone who takes chances – they like a bit of flair. What people also don’t realise is that he does an awful lot for snooker and charity. He does it quietly – he’s not one of these headline-grabbers.”

O’Sullivan has certainly been out of the headlines recently. He has taken another sabbatical from the main snooker circuit since the World Championship last April but makes his television return at the Masters tournament that begins at the Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday. Before that, he will appear on Friday night at St David’s Hall in Cardiff alongside White in a doubles event against Welsh pair Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens.

O’Sullivan’s earliest memory of White was him winning the World Doubles Championship with Higgins in 1984. The post-match interview for their semi-final win very memorably culminated with a clearly inebriated Higgins delivering an impromptu sing and dance performance and there is a hope now that the tournament can be revived. The thought of bridging three generations by winning that title again with O’Sullivan certainly excites White.

“It was one of the highlights of my career so to be now partnering O’Sullivan 32 years later is very special,” he says. “You’ve had Alex Higgins, then you had myself and thank God you have O’Sullivan. Judd Trump is also coming. In sport there are some people you can watch. It’s that attacking style, going for our shots. Some of them are ridiculous and some of them can turn matches. I really think this match in Cardiff will bring the doubles back. If it does, I will be partnering O’Sullivan. I have already told him that.”

White’s own career has now spanned almost four decades and, having played just about every modern-day great when they were at or near their peak, there is no hesitation in his judgment that O’Sullivan is the finest in snooker history. “His cue-ball control is almost perfection – he’s the best player I’ve ever seen,” says White, before pausing to add, “besides myself obviously”.

O’Sullivan turned 40 in December but believes that a slight dip in the standard since the days he was dominating with Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Mark Williams can help keep him competitive. He admitted on his weekly Phoenix FM radio show that he was becoming weary of people asking whether he would play again. “I didn’t have an honest answer,” said O’Sullivan. “There was part of me that missed it and part of me that thought this is suiting me. I’m happy. I thought if I’m going to do the exhibitions it’s important to do some tournaments. I want to give a bit back to the snooker fans as well.

“It’s finding a balance. I thought if I’m not going to play snooker I’d probably have to leave this country for about two years before everyone says, 'We haven’t see him a while’ and they forget about you.”

The winner in O’Sullivan, though, means that his comeback is being taken seriously. He describes starting practice again as “a bit like a Rocky film” and has been playing in some minor competitions.

In response to a question about how well O’Sullivan is playing, White simply advises me to check the scores in this week’s Championship League.

For the record, O’Sullivan won eight out of eight matches against some of the best players in the world, including 3-0 scorelines in the semi-final and final. He also took his already unprecedented tally of career centuries past 800 and set himself the target of reaching 1,000. White’s love for snooker is also such that, even at 53, there is no end in sight. It is almost a decade since he last appeared in the final stages of the World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

“Snooker still fascinates me and I still get a buzz from it,” says White. “I’m not finished. I will get back to the Crucible once more.”

• Jimmy White will be partnered by Ronnie O’Sullivan at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Friday night when England play Wales on the Snooker Legends Tour www.snookerlegends.co.uk