The grandson of a snooker legend is following in the footsteps of his family – but in a totally different sport.
Jimmy White was a six-time World Championship finalist in his illustrious career, having become one of the most popular players and going down in history, remembered fondly even though he has now fallen way down the pecking order in terms of major wins and even appearances.
Away from the table, White has a daughter, Laura, and she has a son, Ralphie. And Ralphie is a cricketer at Surrey.
A week away from his 18th birthday, Ralphie Albert has signed a multi-year contract at the Oval, and has already played for England’s Under-19 squad, first called up when he was just 16.
He featured for Surrey in the One Day Cup this summer, making 96 batting at No 7 as an all-rounder against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, and is tipped for a big future.
White is still playing, but not competing at the top. His last appearance at the World Championship was in 2006 – years before Albert was born.
Snooker legend Jimmy White’s grandson has signed his first professional cricket contract
Ralphie Albert plays for Surrey and has already featured for England’s youth team
‘Mum used to say “one day you’ll understand how famous he is”,’ Albert said via BBC Sport. ‘People would go up to him in the street and I couldn’t understand what was happening because I just knew him as my grandad.
‘It still happens today. We were in the train station going to the Oval to watch the cricket, and maybe three or four people came up to him. I was laughing because I don’t understand how big he is.’
White has passed on some of his knowledge to his grandson, but not in snooker – that type of a career has long not been a possibility for Albert.
But he still compares the two, and will always have his grandad to rely on as he progresses in his promising career.
‘You have to be pretty mentally strong in both sports,’ Albert said. ‘They’re over a long period of time and one error can mess your whole game up.
‘He just gives me advice across the whole mental side, how to be a good sportsperson and manage your game, expectation and stay in the moment.
‘Ever since I was young he’d ask me the same thing: “How much are you giving it?” I’d say 100 per cent, and then he’d say: “Yeah, right”.
