A total of 54 cueists from five nations will compete in the three-day event which is the first of nine that will be staged. The new series offers qualification for the World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre next May.
The top two ranked players at the conclusion of the series will earn places at the World Seniors Snooker Championship, while those who finish between third and tenth will qualify for the ‘Top 16 Shootout’ – where a further place in Sheffield will be on offer.
Among those in the line-up this weekend include 2023 World Seniors Snooker Championship runner-up Alfie Burden and top seed Stuart Watson, who reached the quarter-finals at this year’s event.
Personally I think this qualifying system is better than the previous ones. It’s a shame through that there isn’t a single player in the draw from mainland Europe, or Asia, never-mind from Oceania or the Americas. We had a few before covid, and before Brexit. In fact there is no Scottish player in the draw either …
Just as it happened at the 2024 World Seniors Snooker Championship in Sheffield, World Seniors Snooker will work with Age UK and offer “seniors” persons from Hull to get out of the house, meet other persons ad enjoy some some great snooker.
This initiative was well appreciated by all in Sheffield and I’m certain that it will be no different in Hull.
World Seniors Snooker (WSS) is pleased to announce a partnership with Age UK Hull which will see a Seniors of Hull Day held during the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 event at the Connexin Live on Sunday 8 September.
People from the aging population of Hull, who are often vulnerable and living in isolation, will be invited to the event to meet each other and some of the snooker legends before watching the action unfold on the baize. The day follows on from a similar initiative held during the World Seniors Snooker Championship in support of Age UK Sheffield.
Rohit Sagoo, WSS Director, said: “There are well over one million chronically lonely older people in the UK and half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all. We are delighted to continue the work we started in Sheffield with this event in Hull.”
Andy Haynes, CEO of Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire, said: “Many of the older people that we support often only come out of their homes and meet others because of the services or activities we put on.
“The Seniors of Hull Day along with the attraction of the starts that will be there will give people a reason to come out. Our team will also be in attendance to offer advice and support” he said.
To find out more about Age UK Hull and the support they offer, click here.
This was announced yesterday by Jason Francis on social media and is now reported on the WSS official site:
World Seniors Snooker Championship Shootout Qualifying Event Unveiled
World Seniors Snooker (WSS) is delighted to announce that an additional qualification place will be made available to tour players at the 2025 World Seniors Snooker Championship following a change in the qualifying criteria
The top two players on the official World Seniors Snooker ranking list, as well as the top two on the ‘Race to the Crucible’ one-year list will earn their places in the Crucible Theatre, as previously announced, and they will now be joined by the winner of a newly announced ‘Top 16 Shootout’ event.
The 16 players qualifying for this new event will be those ranked between 3rd and 10th on both lists with the official ranking list taking precedence at all times.
Jason Francis, Chairman of WSS, said: “We want to be a tour that listens to its members. We have listened and we have reacted and it now the fight is not just for the top two spots on each ranking list, but also for the top ten.”
A full list of dates and venues can be found below:
2024
9-11 August (Reading)
27-29 September (Reading)
11-13 October (Reading)
22-24 November (Reading)
13-15 December (Reading)
2025
17-19 January (Newbury)
7-9 February (Reading)
7-9 March (Reading)
4-6 April (Reading)
Amateur players must be 40 on or before the first days play in each event, while professionals ranked outside the top 64 at the start of the 2024/25 season must be over 45 on or before the first days play.
Entries for all events are now open at WPBSA SnookerScores and will close seven days prior to each event.
There is no doubt that Jason is investing himself 100% to further develop the Seniors Snooker Tour, a tour that badly suffered from the covid crisis and its aftermath. In the early years the tour relied a lot on the past legends of the sport. Those players have earned the privilege and are still attracting a lot of fans. But it’s not viable as a long term strategy of course and – to make it worse – some of the oldest players on the main tour stubbornly continue to play very wel, sit at the top of the rankings and refuse to retire. The rascals! 😡😉
Michael Day is a massive snooker fan and is very active on social media. He has been talking to Jason Francis about all things snooker, notably about what it’s like to manage Ronnie, how the Snooker Legends started, the success of the 900 and his plans for the Seniors Tour.
Jason is clearly committed to further develop the Seniors Tour but only has limited means and 24 hours in the day.
Points will continue to be awarded for every frame won at each of the nine events.
The official world rankings are now a two-year rolling system with players defending points from the last two seasons.
The top two ranked players on the official world rankings on 7 April 2025 will be invited to participate in the 2025 World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The Race to the Crucible series will be based purely on performances across the 2024/25 season and will encourage new tour players to join with them not thinking they are a year behind those already established.
The top two ranked players on the Race to the Crucible series ranking list on 7 April 2025 will be invited to participate in the 2025 World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Should the same players sit in the top two of both rankings lists then the official world rankings would take priority.
CUT OFF DATES
On the official world ranking list, the following points will be removed in line with upcoming events:
Even 1: August 9-11, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 WSS Qualifier 1
Event 2: Sept 27–29, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 WSS Open Series 1
Event 3: Oct 11-13, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 WSS Qualifier 2
Event 4: Nov 22-24, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 WSS Open Series 2
Event 5: December 13-15, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 WSS Qualifier 3
Event 6: Jan 17-19, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 WSS Qualifier 4
Event 7: Feb 7-9, points awarded will replace those won at 2022/2023 Open Series 3
Event 8: March 7-9, no points to come off.
Event 9: April 4-6, no points to come off.
2025 World Seniors Championship: players will be defending points won at the 2023 World Seniors Championship
WORLD SENIORS SNOOKER TOUR | 2024/25 SEASON DETAILS ANNOUNCED
World Seniors Snooker (WSS) is excited to announce nine new events as part of a ‘Race to the Crucible’ series and can also confirm that the age cut-off for amateur players on the tour will remain at 40 for the coming season.
The new series will see nine events held across the 2024/25 season at The Crucible Club venues in Reading and Newbury with a total of four places at the prestigious 2025 World Seniors Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on offer.
The top two ranked players on both the official World Seniors Snooker tour official world ranking list and the new one-year ranking list will earn their places in Sheffield and the system replaces the previous four qualifying events which each offered a spot to the winner.
In addition, WSS can now confirm that the cut-off age for amateur snooker players to enter an event will remain at 40. Any World Snooker Tour (WST) professional aged over 45 and ranked outside of the top 64 is also eligible to enter.
Jason Francis, Chairman of WSS, said: “Last season, we announced an intention to move the eligibility to play as an amateur on the tour from 40 to 45, but today we are reversing that decision after listening to our partnering federations and players. We are also more than doubling the number of events this season and replacing the system where just the winner of the events got a place in Sheffield with a new ‘Race to The Crucible’.”
A full list of dates and venues can be found below:
2024
9-11 August (Reading)
27-29 September (Reading)
11-13 October (Reading)
22-24 November (Reading)
13-15 December (Reading)
2025
17-19 January (Newbury)
7-9 February (Reading)
7-9 March (Reading)
4-6 April (Reading)
Entries for all events will open for entry from Monday 1 July on WPBSA SnookerScores and entries for each event will close seven days prior.
Whilst I’m very happy to see more Seniors Snooker events on the calendar, I had hoped for a return of the Seniors Snooker Masters and/or the Seniors Snooker UK Championship. I would also love to see a Seniors European Championship and a Seniors Asian Championship. I know that this is only possible if more financial resources are available and it’s a bit what we call a “vicious circle” in French. To get resources, you need visibility, but to become more visible you need more events and exposure … but to set up more events you need more resources. Channel 5 commitment is brilliant but it’s only the start.
Anyway … good luck to all Seniors players and hopefully see you at the Crucible in May!
Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty will be among those in action when the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 heads to the Connexin Live in Hull on Sunday 8 September.
The event, which will be broadcast live on Channel 5, will bring some of the most decorated names in the sport to the city for the third edition of the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900, following victory for seven-time world champion Hendry in Epsom and an emotional success for Doherty on home soil at Goffs in March.
Reigning World Seniors champion Igor Figueiredo, ‘The Tornado’ Tony Drago and Barry Pinches also feature in the line-up at the former home of the UK Seniors Championship in East Yorkshire.
Jason Francis, Chairman of World Seniors Snooker said, “It is brilliant to return to Hull, a city that has welcomed World Seniors Snooker with open arms for many years. The field contains the four players who contested the semi-finals of the recent Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre, as well as two icons of the game in Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry.”
Tickets start from just £10 and offer the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of top class snooker played under the exciting ‘900’ format, with each frame only lasting a maximum of 15 minutes (900 seconds).
Former world champion Dennis Taylor will also be in Hull as part of the TV commentary team and will host a special ‘VIP Legends Lunch’ which will see snooker fans enjoy a champagne two course meal and a front row seat for the action.
WSS Chairman Jason Francis will go live later tonight to chat through todays news and also will answer any questions tour members or snooker followers wish to ask about any aspect of the Seniors. Feel free to leave your questions here today and he can answer them tonight at around 7pm live on this page.
Igor Figueiredo beat Ken Doherty by 5-2 to be crowned “2024 World Seniors Snooker Champion”.
Congratulations Igor!
Here are the frames score: 1-109(100); 77(72)-14; 89-26; 93(93)-0; 74-44; 33-110(50, 56); 117(88)-0
As you can see, it was Ken who got off to the better start, knoking in a century to lead 1-0. But Igor, who has played the better snooker and scored heavily all week, got over the early nerves and won the next three, with breaks of 72 and 93, to lead 3-1 at the MSI. When they return, Igor won a rather scrappy frame – the only of the match – to put himself just one off victory. Ken wasn’t going to lay down, of course, he took the next one – with two good breaks of 50 and 56 – to keep his hopes alive. But Igor wasn’t in the mood for a long afternoon. After a few safey exchanges, he got it… and a great 88 sealed it.
Here are the pictures I took today …
I’m very pleased for Igor whose career was hindered by financial issues. He didn’t have the money to play on the main tour and support his family, whilst staying in the UK. I guess that the cost of living in Brazil is significantly lower to what it is in the UK, and, remember, there was no 20000 pounds guaranteed back then. But he loves the game and played the best snooker all week. He’s a totally deserving champion!
This is the best World Seniors Snooker Championship I have attended so far. First of all, I want to thank Jason Francis for all the hard work he puts into the Seniors snooker circuit and for inviting me. Next – but not least – l want to thank the players. They gave it all and it made for a great five days of snooker. And finally, thank you as well to everyone at the Crucible this week: the players, the referees, the media people in the media room and on the floor as well as the personnel of the theatre. Everyone contributed to a great week and I always felt welcome.
Igor Figueiredo is the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker Champion
Igor Figueiredo defeated Ken Doherty 5-2 to win the Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship for the first time.
The victory marks the greatest success of the 46-year-old’s career as he becomes the first player from outside of Europe to lift the prestigious World Seniors crown and secures the £20,000 winner’s cheque, the £2,000 high break prize and entry into the Champion of Champions.
For Doherty, the wait goes on to complete a unique ‘grand slam’ as the World Seniors title continues to elude the Irish former World Professional, World Amateur and World Under-21 champion.
Figueiredo qualified for the event as the Pan-American Seniors champion was unarguably a deserved champion, dropping just four frames as he defeated World Women’s Seniors champion Tessa Davidson, 4-time and defending champion Jimmy White and Tony Drago before overcoming 1997 World champion Doherty in the title match.
‘The Darling of Dublin’ had shown his grit and determination in making the final, coming from behind against both Tyson Crinis and Dechawat Poomjaeng before securing a 4-1 victory over Barry Pinches in the last four, and he made a dream start to the Sunday afternoon contest by firing in a break of exactly 100 to take an early lead.
The Brazilian, who wrapped up his semi-final match with back-to-back centuries, continued to show his break-building prowess as he compiled breaks of 72 and 93 to storm into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.
The fifth frame saw a potential turning point when Figueiredo looking to be clearing up to take it but missed the green to allow Doherty a seemingly golden opportunity to reduce the deficit. However, the Irishman was unable to capitalise as he too jawed the green to leave his Brazilian opponent with the simplest of chances to move one away from victory.
Doherty briefly rallied in emphatic fashion with two half centuries in the sixth to make it 4-2, but it was too little too late as an emotional Figueiredo fired in an 88 clearance for glory before punching the air in front of a joyous Crucible crowd.
“I don’t have the words for this moment – I’m still sleeping or dreaming!” Figueiredo said after the victory.
“I think I played very well. I am very happy that people enjoyed it and for the people in Brazil. I have a lot of people behind me giving me support – thank you so much.
“I came in very confident but also nervous because it was a very important moment, not only for myself and my history but for the Americas – it is very important for current players and for the future generation.”
World Seniors Snooker would like to thank Channel 5, Mr Vegas Casino and everyone involved in making the 2024 World Seniors Snooker Championship a success.
Ken Doherty and Igor Figueiredo will meet in the final of the 2024 Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship final after both won their semi-finals by a 4-1 scoreline on Saturday afternoon at the Crucible Theatre.
Both players are aiming to lift the World Seniors title for the first time in their career and they will face off on Sunday afternoon in a best-of-nine frame title match.
Doherty is now one victory away from the completion of an historic ‘grand slam’ which would see him add the Seniors crown alongside the World Under-21, World Amateur and World Professional titles he won in 1989 and 1997 respectively.
Meanwhile, Figueiredo becomes the first ever cueist from outside of Europe to reach the final of the tournament and success against Doherty would represent the biggest victory of the 46-year-old’s career.
UNSTOPPABLE IGOR FIRES THROUGH
Figueiredo gave the finest performance of the tournament so far to wrap up a 4-1 victory over ‘The Tornado’ Tony Drago with back-to-back century breaks.
The high-scoring nature of the contest may have come as a surprise to those watching the opening frame which was a nervy affair and saw neither player able to build up any rhythm as the Brazilian took it on the final blue.
The break-building quickly arrived for both players as Drago levelled the game with a break of 69 before Figueiredo restored his advantaged with his first half-century of the afternoon.
A stunning break of 110 from Figueiredo, the first century break of this year’s tournament, moved the Brazilian one frame away from the final and he charged over the line in emphatic fashion by firing in a 119 to complete the victory with impressive back-to-back centuries.
After reaching Sunday’s final, Figueiredo said: “I am very happy – I played very well in the last two frames. Two century breaks is not bad for myself! I am very happy to get into the final.
The Brazilian credits his wife Camilla for his upturn in form and he said after the victory: “My wife is my heart, she inspires me a lot and gives me power and support. My life changed after my wife and I do everything for her.”
CRAFTY KEN INTO SECOND SENIORS FINAL
Doherty booked his place in a first Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship final since 2020 by defeating Barry Pinches 4-1 in the semi-final.
The Irishman offered his best performance of the event so far and will be aiming to quash the memories of his last World Seniors final, when he led Jimmy White 4-0 at the Crucible before succumbing to a 5-4 defeat.
There was clear tension early on in the contest with the first frame taking over half an hour before Doherty crucially took it on the final black.
The 1997 World champion ultimately needed three visits to take the second frame, but eventually got over the line, before an unexpected miss from an out-of-sorts Pinches allowed Doherty to move one away from victory at 3-0.
The Englishman briefly rallied to pull a frame back at 3-1, but it was too little too late as ‘The Darling of Dublin’ completed the victory in frame five to set up a Sunday afternoon final meeting with Figueiredo.
“I got off to a good start by winning that black ball game and I’m thrilled to bits to get through to the final” Doherty reflected post-match.
“It was a really tough match and I’m a bit jaded but just so excited about tomorrow and the final against Igor Figueiredo.
“I’m not going to count any chickens, I’m just going to go out and play my best and give it all I can. I definitely want to win this tournament, it’s one I want to tick off my list, but I have a very tough opponent in front of me.”
The WPBSA World Seniors Tour 