Former world champion speaks ahead of snooker championship in Scunthorpe
Joe Johnson spoke at a special launch event
By
Charlie Wilson
07:00, 17 FEB 2018
1986 World Snooker Champion Joe Johnson pictured at the launch of 2018 World Senior Snooker Championship at the Baths Hall, Scunthorpe
Former snooker world champion Joe Johnson is looking forward to returning to Scunthorpe.
For the second consecutive year, the town will play host to the World Seniors Snooker Championship.
The tournament will once again be held at the Baths Hall, following a hugely successful event in 2017.
A special launch event was held at The Baths Hall yesterday (Friday, February 16) in which the 1986 world champion Joe Johnson was present to launch the tournament, which will run from March 20-24.
The 65-year-old spoke to the Scunthorpe Telegraph about the upcoming event, and stated just how much he was looking forward to returning to play at the Baths Hall.
“Absolutely. It was fantastic last year and we’re all very excited to return to the Baths Hall next month,” Johnson told the Telegraph.
“I thought the event was really professional and it was well attended by the people of Scunthorpe.
“This part of the country has always been a hotbed of snooker. There has been some top players from round such as Sid Hood, Mike Hallett and Ray Edmunds – we knew of the interest in snooker around here, but it was so great to see the crowds turn out like they did in Scunthorpe.”
1986 World Snooker Champion Joe Johnson pictured at the launch of 2018 World Senior Snooker Championship at the Baths Hall, Scunthorpe with (from left) Baths Hall general manager Dan Harris and promoter Jason FrancisDuring his 27-year professional career, Johnson has played all around the world in countries such as Australia, Dubai, Canada, China and Hong Kong to name a few – playing in some of the most prestigious arenas.
However, Johnson was full of praise for the Baths Hall and made a big statement on just how impressed he was by Scunthorpe’s entertainment venue.
“It’s an amazing feeling to play in front of a full house and it really is a great venue here at the Baths Hall – when I came in last year I was honestly surprised on just how nice it was.
“I would say it is as good as any venue I have ever played in.”
After a highly successful tournament last year, in which the event was streamed to just under three million people, Johnson feels that Scunthorpe has the potential to become the home of the World Seniors Snooker Championship.
“It absolutely has the potential. We all thoroughly enjoyed playing here last year and that’s why we are back.
“If you think of the World Championships, you automatically think of the Crucible in Sheffield. Well what we want to do is when people think of the World Seniors, they think of the Baths Hall in Scunthorpe.
1986 World Snooker Champion Joe Johnson pictured at the launch of 2018 World Senior Snooker Championship at the Baths Hall, Scunthorpe, with (from left) Baths Hall general manager Dan Harris, promoter Jason Francis and Andy Doyle from Victor Wood Kia (Grantham) who are sponsoring the 147 break with a Kia Sportage“One day, the time will come where the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and all the world’s best players – they could be playing in this tournament in just a few years. That would be great for Scunthorpe.”
The winner of the event will pocket £10,000 and will also go on to play in the professional World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in April.
And the former World Champion did not hesitate when asked who he believes will be victorious in this year’s Championship.
“Obviously I am going to win! I had a great win last year of Patrick Wallace – he was the early favourite and I played really well against him and came out on top.
“If by some chance I don’t win it… to be honest, there are so many good players in this tournament, you will see a high quality level of play.
Here is the Schedule for the first round of the Seniors World Championship 2018:
Official Launch and Sponsorship Opportunities Event
Friday 16th February – 9.15am-10.15 am
The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe
Special Guest – Snooker Legend – Joe Johnson
The Baths Hall is proud to be hosting the Snooker World Seniors Championship in Scunthorpe between Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th March 2018. The event will be streamed live across the world and last year was watched by 3m viewers in China alone.
You are invited to join Events that Rok Limited and Snooker Legend Joe Johnson at the launch event and hear about how you can get involved and the sponsorship opportunities that are available to you and your business.
This FREE event will take place at The Baths Hall, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 7RG on Friday 16th February 9.15am-10.15am.
Registration is from 9am with tea and coffee on arrival.
Michael Judge is the first Senior player to book his place at the Crucible come April. He won the first Seniors Masters 2018 qualifying event in Newbury in some style: indeed he made three centuries – 134, 111 and 106 – on his way to the title.
He beat Lee Richardson in the final
Michael Judge took home the beautiful trophy by Pete Odell as well as the dazzling prize for the highest break
Here are the full results:
There were two other centuries during the event: 109 by Patrick Wallace and 103 by Stephen Campbell.
As Jason Francis reminded us on twitter and by Press release:
You have until Midnighttonight to enter Masters Q2 and get that final place at the Crucible in Sheffield on April 12th to play a legend!!
Upton Park Snooker Centre, Sat 17th and Sunday 18th Feb.
Enter now by clicking here https://www.snookerlegends.co.uk/wscform2.html
Meanwhile the action continues in Newbury where we are down to the last 16:
Dean Sycamore v Rhydian Richards
Sean Lanigan V Stefan Mazrocis
Lee Richardson v Neil Carroll
James O’Sullivan v Andrew Darken
Ashley Beal v Simon Dent
Jason Pegram v Michael Judge
Patrick Wallace v Nick Spelman
Gary Filtness v Stuart Watson
This is what Jason Francis sent around by email today:
world seniors tour masters q2 upton park snooker centre 17/18th feb 2018
The entry list in Newbury was huge compared to other qualifiers and at one stage I thought I would need to close it early.
I have to limit entries to 64 to allow us to do this in two days, I know running an event on a Friday causes issues with work.
I know many of the players who are playing Newbury and waiting to see how they get on before entering Upton Park, I think that could be a mistake as the entries are already climbing and it could well be that it hits 64 BEFORE the newbury event.
Therefore I’d urge you to confirm your Upton park entry NOW and of course if you win in Newbury it gets refunded anyway.
The Winners in Newbury and Upton get to play in the Crucible.
Upton Park Snooker Centre, London E13 17th and 18th Feb (with 16th if required)
1986 World Snooker Champion Joe Johnson pictured at the launch of 2018 World Senior Snooker Championship at the Baths Hall, Scunthorpe
The WPBSA World Seniors Tour 