World Seniors Snooker Championship
Non-Ranking, Snooker Headlines, Tournaments, World Seniors Tour

World Seniors Championship on the BBC

Following the conclusion of the professional World Championship, it’s the old-timers turn to shine in Sheffield.

The 2020 World Seniors Championship gets under way on Wednesday at the Crucible Theatre with 16 players in action.

Ronnie O’Sullivan captured world glory on the Main Tour at the famous venue for a sixth time in his career on Sunday evening.

By the end of Saturday, another global winner will be crowned at the sport’s spiritual home.

Reigning champion Jimmy White heads an interesting field that will contest the tournament behind closed doors.

For the first time in World Seniors Championship history, the event will be broadcast on the BBC – with live coverage set to be provided on its Red Button and digital platforms.

The “Whirlwind” is probably the favourite once again this year, hoping to seal a third world seniors success and a record sixth title overall on the circuit.

White meets 1986 world champion Joe Johnson in the last 16, the latter having tasted success over the 58 year-old en route to winning the Seniors Masters in 2019.

Three other former world seniors champions feature in the top half of the draw, with Aaron Canavan in action against Leo Fernandez and Nigel Bond up against Stephen Hendry.

Hendry, a seven-time champion of the world, has failed to impress so far on the World Seniors Tour with not even an appearance in a final to his name.

Peter Lines, champion three years ago when the event was previously staged in Scunthorpe, entertains Tony Knowles.

The bottom half of the draw boasts only one former winner in Darren Morgan, who missed out on a repeat victory twelve months ago with a 5-3 defeat to White in the final.

There are several credible contenders in this section, though, including Morgan’s opponent Patrick Wallace who finished as a beaten finalist to Canavan in 2018.

Two all-Irish battles see Ken Doherty face Rodney Goggins and world seniors number one Michael Judge take on Dennis Taylor – who at 71 is the oldest competitor in the line-up.

Finally, English duo Wayne Cooper and Gary Filtness will go head-to-head for a place in the quarter-finals.

Cooper was a late replacement for Tony Drago after the Maltese “Tornado” decided to withdraw on health grounds.

The matches will last seven frames up until the final, which will see the format increase to the best of nine frames.

Outside of the UK, live coverage will be available via the new Matchroom Live streaming service.

BBC Coverage

Wednesday, 19 August

13:00-16:00 & 19:00-22:00 – BBC Red Button, BBC Sport online, BBC iPlayer

Thursday, 20 August

13:00-16:00 & 19:00-22:00 – BBC Red Button, BBC Sport online, BBC iPlayer

Friday, 21 August

13:00-16:00 & 19:00-22:00 – BBC Red Button, BBC Sport online, BBC iPlayer

Saturday, 22 August

12:00-15:00 & 19:00-22:00 – BBC Red Button, BBC Sport online, BBC iPlayer

Featured photo credit: WSS

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