World Seniors Championship
Tournament information
LocationScunthorpe (2017–2018)
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (2019–present)
CountryEngland
Established1991
Organisation(s)WPBSA (1991, 2010–2016, 2019–present)
Snooker Legends (2017–2018)
FormatSeniors event
Total prize fund£50,000[1]
Current champion Jimmy White (ENG)

The World Seniors Championship is an invitational seniors snooker tournament which has been played under different formats. As of 2020 the minimum age is 40, but it was 45 in 2011 and 2012.

History

The event was first held in 1991 with 16 players aged over 40. It took place at the Trentham Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent with the sponsorship of Matchroom. The final was contested between the two highest ranked players, with Cliff Wilson defeating Eddie Charlton 5–4 to become the inaugural champion.[2] The event was revived in 2010, but the field was reduced to 9 players and was played in Bradford.[3] The event was sponsored by Wyldecrest Park Homes, who remained the sponsor until 2012.[2][4]

In 2011 event the minimum age for competitors was increased from 40 to 45 years,[5] and it was moved to the East of England Showground in Peterborough.[6] All matches were best of 3 frames, a 30-second shot clock was introduced after ten minutes of play, and the miss rule was altered so ball-in-hand was awarded anywhere on table after the third miss. The field was increased to 16 players, with 12 being invited and four coming through qualifying.[5][7] In 2012 the event was moved to the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.[8] In 2013 the number of qualifying spots was reduced to two,[9] and the event was sponsored by 888casino.com.[10] Stephen Hendry became eligible to compete at tournament, because he turned 45 during the 2013/2014 season.[11] In the 2014/2015 season the event was moved to the second half of the season, and held at Circus Arena in Blackpool.[12] The minimum age for the event returned to 40 years. All former World Seniors Champions and World Snooker Champions, who registered for the event, were seeded through to Blackpool, and the remaining places were filled through a qualifying event.[13]

In 2017 and 2018 it was held for non-tour players aged 40 or over at the beginning of the year.[14][15]

From 2019 the tournament was opened back up to players on the main tour who were over 40 but ranked outside the top 64 in the world rankings. The tournament was played at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Winners

[2]

Year Winner Runner-up Final score Venue Season
1991 Wales Cliff Wilson Australia Eddie Charlton 5–4 Stoke-on-Trent 1991–92
2010[3] England Jimmy White England Steve Davis 4–1 Bradford 2010–11
2011[6] Wales Darren Morgan England Steve Davis 2–1 Peterborough 2011–12
2012[8] England Nigel Bond Wales Tony Chappel 2–0 Portsmouth 2012–13
2013[9] England Steve Davis England Nigel Bond 2–1 Portsmouth 2013–14
2015[12] Wales Mark Williams Republic of Ireland Fergal O'Brien 2–1 Blackpool 2014–15
2016[16] England Mark Davis Wales Darren Morgan 2–1 Preston 2015–16
2017[17] England Peter Lines England John Parrott 4–0 Scunthorpe 2016–17
2018[18] Jersey Aaron Canavan Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 4–3 Scunthorpe 2017–18
2019 England Jimmy White Wales Darren Morgan 5–3 Sheffield 2019–20
2020 England Jimmy White Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty 5–4 Sheffield 2019–20
2021 England David Lilley England Jimmy White 5–3 Sheffield 2020–21
2022 Wales Lee Walker England Jimmy White 5–4 Sheffield 2021–22
2023 England Jimmy White England Alfie Burden 5–3 Sheffield 2022–23

Multiple Finalists

Name Nationality Winner Runner-up Finals
Jimmy White  England 4 2 6
Steve Davis  England 1 2 3
Darren Morgan  Wales 1 2 3
Nigel Bond  England 1 1 2

Century breaks

Total: 20 (as of 2023 Championship)

References

  1. ^ Shaw, Jamie (2 March 2015). "World Seniors Championship 2015 live scores and tournament schedule". snooker-news.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Turner, Chris. "Masters/Seniors Snooker (Over 40s)". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Wyldecrest Park Homes World Seniors Championship (2010)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Wyldecrest Park Homes Sponsor Seniors". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b "World Seniors Snooker Returns". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Wyldecrest Park Homes World Seniors Championship (2011)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  7. ^ Hendon, David (6 November 2011). "Darren Morgan: World Seniors Champion". Snooker Scene Blog. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Wyldecrest Park Homes World Seniors Championship (2012)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  9. ^ a b "888casino.com World Seniors Championship (2013)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Will Bond Defect to the East?". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  11. ^ "No False Hopes For Hendry". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Betway World Seniors Championship (2015)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  13. ^ "New Criteria For World Seniors". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  14. ^ "THE 2017 WORLD SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  15. ^ "TERMS AND CONDITIONS - THE 2017 / 2018 WORLD SENIORS TOUR" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2017.
  16. ^ "888sport World Seniors Championship (2016)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Stephen Hendry beaten as Peter Lines wins World Seniors event". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  18. ^ "World Seniors Championship (2018)". Snooker.org. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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