This was announced today by Jason Francis on social media 

We are sorry to announce that Tony Drago has been identified as a close contact of someone who has contracted COVID and his enforced period of quarantine means he cannot travel to the UK for next weeks event. Tony will be replaced in the event by Patrick Wallace who is the current World Number 1 ranked Seniors Player. Patrick will face Jimmy White in the Last 16 Bonus Arena, Hull WAYS Facilities Management

Of course, we wish Tony the best. Hopefully he won’t develop any (severe) symptoms.

This is the updated first round draw:

We have some interesting matches in prospect!

Michael Judge v Peter Lines.

This is a hard one to call. Both Michael and Peter have loads of experience, a good tactical nous and a vast knowledge of the game. This should be good and it should be close. Peter is playing on the main tour, he should be sharp. How much and how well pthe epared Michael will be is the unknown factor. I’m certain though that he will do everything in his power to be ready: He’s the defending Champion. I can’t pick a winner.

Ken Doherty v Lee Walker.

Expect hard match play. Expect grit and patience. Expect fancy socks… 🧦. I will go with Ken for this one, but only just. Ken  is very shrewd and has more experience of the “main table situation”. Lee though is a very solid player: if he manages to dictate the pace and style of the match, he will definitely give Ken a serious challenge.

Jimmy White v Patrick Wallace.

Patrick is the number one Senior player for a reason. In the past however he has struggled with nerves in the big matches, on the main table. Jimmy on the other hand loves such situations, he thrives on them. He’s a showman. Because of these differences in personality, and because these are short matches, I fancy Jimmy to win, but not by much.

John Parrott v Wayne Cooper

John Parrott has very rarely performed convincingly since the Seniors Tour started. I’m not sure why. I must admit that I don’t know much about Wayne’s game, but he has come through the qualifiers which isn’t easy. Wayne Cooper to win.

Joe Johnson v Rod Lawler

Joe Johnson’s cue action is all over the place these days, but he still relishes the battle, and still pots some very good balls. The competitive animal has not been tamed. Rod Lawler is someone I fully respect because he always tries 100%, but I’m not a fan of his pace and he has struggled in recent years. I can’t call this one. I have a feeling that it will just depend on either player’s form on the day.

Cliff Thorburn v Kuldesh Johal

Cliff is 73, getting down of the shot is a struggle, the shot-clock a nightmare. He is however a great champion, and still has the heart of a great champion. Will it be enough to beat Kuldesh? I’m not sure. I would absolutely love to see Cliff do well but I think that Kuldesh will have too much for him.

David Lilley v Philip Williams

Philip Williams has been a strong presence in qualifiers on the WSS tour those last years. He sure can play. David Lilley is the Seniors reigning World Champion and he plays on the main tour. This should be a quality match but, ultimately, I expect David to win it.

Stephen Hendry v Barry Pinches

Now this is an interesting one. Stephen Hendry has hinted that he is playing well in practice. Every time he plays on the main tour he has lots of expectations to cope with and, because of his ranking, he usually faces a “current” top player. This will be a different proposition and an interesting “test” for Stephen. Barry Pinches had a very decent career, he is/was very solid but never really classed as a “top” player. I will go with Stephen here, mainly because, given the opportunity, he still has the scoring power. However, if Stephen goes for too much and gives Barry a lot of opportunities, he will probably pay the price.

David Lilley won the first Q-Tour event of this season. There are four such events sheduled this season, with the player topping the order of merit getting a two year professional tour card.

Here is the report by WPBSA

Lilley Crowned King of the Castle at Q Tour

England’s David Lilley has claimed the inaugural WPBSA Q Tour title following a 5-1 final defeat of China’s Si Jiahui at the Castle Snooker & Sports Bar in Brighton.

• View full results from Q Tour 1

The WPBSA Q Tour is an official pathway to the World Snooker Tour with two professional places to be won across the season from four tournaments. The events are open to all players, with 48 players automatically qualified for the last 64 stage through their position on the 2021 Q School Order of Merit.

Reigning World Seniors Snooker champion Lilley was one of eight players competing on the final day having seen the field reduced from 107 since the start of the tournament and was impressed throughout, compiling 14 breaks of 50, including three centuries during his six matches played.

Having already dispatched English trio Hamim Hussain, Daniel Womersley and John Astley, his closest match came at the quarter-finals stage where he won the final two frames to edge out Welshman Daniel Wells 4-3, before dominating Alex Millington to reach the title match.

There he would face fellow former professional Si, who himself had seen off Lee Shanker, Soheil Vahedi and Alfie Lee to reach the final day, before toppling Keishin Kamihashi and Simon Bedford to earn the right to face Lilley.

The 19-year-old would have no answer in the decisive match, however, as he quickly fell 4-0 behind – potting just five balls prior to the mid-session interval – leaving Lilley just one frame from the title. Although Si would claim the first frame upon their resumption with a cool clearance of 84, Lilley would not be denied and took out the decider with a break of 76 to become the first Q Tour champion of the season.

The victory puts Lilley in pole position for the first World Snooker Tour card available from the new Q Tour series, with the top ranked player following this season’s four scheduled events set to qualify. A further 16 players will contest a play-off tournament for the second card.

The WPBSA would like to thank all of the players, officials and in particular the Castle Snooker Club and its staff, who helped to ensure the success of the first Q Tour event – which saw an impressive 28 century breaks compiled across three days.

The WPBSA Q Tour will return with Event Two from 10-12 December at the Terry Griffiths Matchroom, Llanelli. The closing date for entries for the event is 4:30pm on Friday 26 November 2021

We will see an American Senior at the Crucible next May

Congratulations Aly and best of luck at the Theatre of Dreams

Aly Wins Pan American Seniors Snooker Title

Ahmed Aly Elsayed is set to realise a dream and appear at the Crucible Theatre next May after winning the 2021 Pan American Seniors Snooker Championship in Canada.

The American – who last month won a record-breaking sixth national championship title – claimed the continental accolade at the Corner Bank venue in Toronto. The triumph means he earns a coveted berth at the 2022 World Seniors Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Organised by the Pan American Billiards and Snooker Association (PABSA), a total of 48 players representing Brazil, Canada and the United States of America took part in the competition that initially featured an eight-group round robin phase which was followed by knockout rounds.

New York cueist Aly qualified from his group and then defeated Alan Whitefield 3-1, Ali Baba 4-3 and Eddie Galati 4-1 before denying Levi Meiller 4-1 in the final.

Aly will now turn his attention to the Pan American Snooker Championship which takes place at the same venue over the next few days. The winner of this premier continental event for the Americas will secure a two-year World Snooker Tour card.

Article by Michael Day.

The draw for the 2022 UK Seniors Championship first round has been made.

Darren Morgan has won the Seniors 2021 EBSA (European) Championship in Portugal last week. Congratulations Darren.

This EBSA championship carried a spot into the 2022 Seniors World Championship. Because Darren is already in the draw, this spot will be given to the runner-up, Frank Sarsfield.

Here is the Press released as shared on World Seniors Snooker Facebook page.

PRESS RELEASE- FRANK SARSFIELD
Following his run to the final in the EBSA European Seniors Championship World Seniors Snooker is delighted to announce that Frank Sarsfield from Ireland gets a place in our 2022 World Seniors Championship which will be played at the Crucible Theatre in May.

With the current EBSA Seniors Champion already qualified, Darren Morgan, the federation has decided to use their nomination for the runner up from that event.
The news was broken to Frank by EBSA Chairman Maxim Cassis who has been overseeing a tremendous event in Portugal of over 500 personnel. With Darren and Frank in the field the EBSA is well represented.

Jason Francis, Chairman of World Seniors, said “To play snooker at the Crucible Theatre is the pinnacle for any snooker player, it’s the dream we all have when we first pick up a cue. We are delighted to accept the EBSA nomination of Frank Sarsfield from Ireland who will join fellow Irishmen Michael Judge and Ken Doherty in the field next May”

Maxime Cassis said “The EBSA is delighted to nominate Frank Sarsfield to take part into this year’s World Seniors Snooker Championship.

The standard of this year’s European Championships was very high with many top senior players competing and Darren Morgan retaining his title.

To play in the Crucible is the dream of all snooker players and I’m sure Frank and Darren will enjoy it”

The World Seniors Championship plays from the 4th to the 8th May 2022.

Good luck and enjoy the Crucible Frank!