SNOOKER: Snooker veteran Jimmy White has changed his name by deed poll to Jimmy Brown - in a desperate attempt to secure sponsorship for the ailing sport.

Last year the British Government banned tobacco advertising in sport and snooker has suffered, struggling to secure sponsorship deals. However, food manufacturer HP is sponsoring the brown ball in the forthcoming Masters tournament in London and came up with the name-change proposal to promote their famous brand of brown sauce, which White - now Brown - agreed to.

"At first I thought it was a wind-up but it's turned out to be true. And snooker needs more sponsors and we need people with a household name," said Brown/White. "We haven't got any major sponsors and that's why I did it."

Brown admitted the tobacco advertising ban has forced such desperate measures.

"Very much so," he said. "Since the Government have stopped the tobacco sponsorship the game's been in trouble."