Ahead of the WSS ROKiT Masters 2019, the defending Champion, Cliff Thorburn hosted a Canadian themed dinner, designed by his wife, Barbara.

It had everything: great food, laugher, memories… Cliff Thorburn was duly honoured. Jason Ferguson, representing WPBSA, Mandy Fisher, representing WWS, Nigel Mawer representing WDBS were all present. There was an auction, a raffle, trick-shots …

Here is the story in pictures…

And a very important announcement: The Crucible Theatre will host the WSS World Championship in the future, and this year event will take place mid August. WLBS and WDBS players will be invited in dedicated sessions. And the event will grow in the coming years featuring more players. Tomorrow’s show will be the last “Snooker Legend” show at the Crucible and the tenth since it all started with Alex Higgins in 2010.

Here it is as posted on WPBSA Web Site

Crucible to Stage World Seniors Snooker Championship

11th April 2019

 

With just ten days until the World Professional Snooker Championship hits Sheffield, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has announced a new major annual snooker tournament that will see the game’s icons go head to head for the ultimate World Seniors title.

The ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship is coming to the Crucible Theatre as part of a new partnership with Sheffield City Council to give the city a second major snooker event each year.

Legends such as Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White join a field of 20 players from 16 countries who will battle it out over four days to see who will lift the World Seniors Championship trophy.

Also for the very first time, within their four-day stay, a session will be dedicated to showcase the talents of the World Women’s Snooker (WWS) Tour and the World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) Tour.

Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the WPBSA said: “It’s great news to place the World Seniors Championship in the venue where our legends created their legacy.

“Being able to use the event to also showcase the talents of the women’s and the disability tours sends an important message for our sport and also opens up the dream of playing in the Crucible Theatre for everyone.”

The event takes place from 15-18 August at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield, home of the annual World Snooker Championship since 1977.

Paul Billington, Director of Culture and Environment at SCC, said: “We’re delighted to bring a second major snooker event to Sheffield, the true home of the sport. Many of the legends who will take part in the ROKiT World Seniors Championship made their name in our iconic Crucible Theatre, where this new tournament will also take place.

“As well as the chance to watch legends from the men’s game, this event showcases women’s and disability snooker at the highest level opening up the game to a whole new audience.

“We look forward to welcoming snooker’s elite and many visiting fans to Sheffield for what promises to be a thrilling showdown.”

The competition will see 20 of snooker’s best-loved personalities play over 12 sessions across four days. Tickets go on sale for all 12 sessions on Thursday 18 April.

Tickets to the women’s and disability sessions can be purchased for just £1.47 with any full price World Seniors ticket.

Tickets will also be available for a VIP meet experience with senior players, that will be held on the final day.

All tickets will be available at http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

and the poster!

Meanwhile, remember, this is happening at the Crucible today!

Jonathan Bagley was playing yesterday at the World Championship 2019 Qualifiers at the English Institute of Sports. He was beaten 10-4 by Thepchaya Un-Nooh, but did himself proud. Jonathan really struggled at the start of the match in  those unfamiliar conditions. He trailed 8-1 at the end of the first session, but the match had been closer than the score suggested especially after the MSI. This showed in the second session: “Theppy” needed only two frames, but Jonathan made him work for them, winning the first mine session by 3-1.

Another WSS player was at the table as well. Michael Judge beat former World Seniors Champion Peter Lines by 10-0, in a match that lasted over 10 hours and finished at nearly 3 am…