Finals, News

Davis Marks World Seniors Success

Mark Davis became the World Seniors champion for the first time on Sunday.

Mark Davis Pink Ribbon
Mark Davis also had breaks of 73 and 58 – photo courtesy of Monique Limbos

The Englishman overcame former champion Darren Morgan 2-1 in the final to collect the trophy at the Preston Guild Hall.

Davis, 43, had arguably the toughest route to the final.

After first coming through qualifying to reach the last 16, Davis met 1997 world champion Ken Doherty in the opening round and narrowly edged the Irishman in a decider before seeing off highly ranked Robert Milkins in the last eight.

He then dismantled Rory McLeod’s semi-final challenge in two frames to set up a meeting with 2011 winner Morgan.

The Welshman, who still features regularly on the amateur circuit both domestically and across the world, had beaten crowd favourite Jimmy White in the last four and, having lost the opening frame of the final, responded with a 55 break to ensure that the showdown went all the way.

Main Tour’s Davis, though, drew on all of his recent experience to knock in a run of 76 to capture the title.

It marks his fourth world crown after three previous triumphs in the Six Red World Championships.

Overall the tournament came and went without much of a fuss.

The crowd attending was decent if not spectacular and one suspects that a lot more could be done to make the event more compelling.

It’s to the competition’s detriment as a spectacle that the age limit is just 40, as it includes too many players who still compete to a high level professionally, and effectively scares away the retired legends of the game who people really would prefer to come out and support.

The best of three format is also questionable, particularly in the final where there is no reason for it not to be at least best of seven – as it was originally.

Nevertheless, Davis wont mind as he walks away with the handy £18,000 winner’s cheque.

Click here to view the draw.

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