RANKING BEST PLAYERS NEVER TO WIN THE WORLD TITLE

This discussion I'm about to raise seems to be the best snooker debate there can be, as people will just look at their favourite players and throw arguments - sometimes not great ones - at you. A lot of people seem to think it's obvious, of course it's Jimmy White. But no, it's not (sorry Jimmy).

At first we've got to make it clear that being the player who got closer to winning the World Title without winning it doesn't make you the best. If it did, there was no point to even have this discussion, Jimmy lost in six finals - one of them 16-18, another 17-18 and another 14-18 after leading 14-8. But as great as Jimmy was at the Crucible, final defeats only means that he was never quite the best.

Crucible runs do count as an argument, but what maybe counts more than that are the achievements of the players other than winning the World Title, as no one that we'll consider here have, obviously. For example, although Ali Carter got close by making the final twice, he doesn't have huge accomplishments to his name. His only other Triple Crown final was at the Masters this year losing to Stuart Bingham.

Another thing I can't consider is what I think the player is yet to achieve. Even when I mention the current players I'll only do that based on what they already achieved. If I was to judge by potential, then I'd say it was Yan Bingtao as I think he's got about 8 world titles on him, but since so far he's not achieved a lot yet, he doesn't make my shortlist.

Here's my ranking:

1st: Ding Junhui (3 UK Titles, 1 Masters Title, 1 World Final)

2nd: Jimmy White (1 UK Title, 1 Masters Title, 6 World Finals)

3rd: Matthew Stevens (1 UK Title, 1 Masters Title, 2 World Finals)

4th: Paul Hunter (3 Masters Titles)

5th: Doug Mountjoy (2 UK Titles, 1 Masters Title, 1 World Final)

It was particularly difficult to choose between Paul Hunter and Matthew Stevens. Mainly because I think Paul Hunter was in fact a better player and would've proved that had he not passed away still young. But like I said, I'm only considering what players actually achieved and not what they would have. Still, Hunter has one triple crown title more than Stevens (3, all at the Masters), but he's never been to the final of the other two and back then the UK Championship was more prestigious than the Masters. Stevens went on to not just win both the UK and the Masters, but got to two world finals and in both he should've won. Of course he'd rather win but if he had, he would not be on this list.

As for Jimmy and Ding, I think it's an easy choice. Of course the six world finals raise an argument for Jimmy, but apart from that he didn't achieve too much really. One UK Title and one Masters title against Ding's three UK's and one Masters means he won half of what Ding did. And Ding has been to a world championship final and a couple semifinals, it's not like he never got close. Of course Jimmy got closer, but that only means that as good a Crucible player he was, he was never the best. Also, Ding has played less than half as many seasons as Jimmy has, but still leads maximum breaks 6 to 1, century breaks 500+ to 300+ and ranking tournaments 14 to 10. Ding Junhui is a better player and has achieved more than Jimmy White.

Again, we've not considered player's potential here, only actual achievements. But as far as the Jimmy-Ding comparison, I think although Jimmy White still has an argument for him, by the time Ding Junhui ends his career, it'll have become an unfair comparison. World Championships are never for granted, so I won't be here saying I think Ding will most definitely win world titles in the future, but even if he doesn't I expect him to keep winning other Triple Crown titles until there comes a point when he'll be incomparable to Jimmy.

Well, I know what Jimmy fans are like, I know comparisons are always controversial. But I have massive respect for Jimmy White and for everything he means to the game. He's left a legacy to snooker that few have, regardless of winning or not. My intention here was to find out who the best player was based on what they achieved on the table. But we all know snooker can be much more than this! I hope you enjoyed.

Follow Down the Rail on Instagram and like our page on Facebook for all things snooker!