The World Seniors Snooker Championship commences on Wednesday with Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry among the stars in the draw.
Taking place for the fifth year in a row at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, a total of 16 competitors from around the globe will be taking part.
It has become a nice way to end the snooker season and comes just days after the main tour World Championship concluded at the famous venue.
History and format
Originally staged for one year in 1991 and subsequently revived almost 20 years later, the World Seniors Championship has been annually held since 2010.
Jimmy White is the record three-time champion having picked up the trophies in 2010, 2019, and 2020.
The Whirlwind has fallen just short of adding to his tally in each of the last two editions, losing the 2021 and 2022 title deciders to David Lilley and Lee Walker respectively.
In addition to White and Walker, Darren Morgan, Mark Davis, and Peter Lines are the other former World Seniors Snooker Championship winners who feature in the 2023 draw.
The format is a straight knockout, with the first round taking place over a short five frames, the quarters and semis requiring seven frames, and the final lasting nine.
Previous finals
1991: Cliff Wilson 5-4 Eddie Charlton
2010: Jimmy White 4-1 Steve Davis
2011: Darren Morgan 2-1 Steve Davis
2012: Nigel Bond 2-0 Tony Chappel
2013: Steve Davis 2-1 Nigel Bond
2015: Mark Williams 2-1 Fergal O’Brien
2016: Mark Davis 2-1 Darren Morgan
2017: Peter Lines 4-0 John Parrott
2018: Aaron Canavan 4-3 Patrick Wallace
2019: Jimmy White 5-3 Darren Morgan
2020: Jimmy White 5-4 Ken Doherty
2021: David Lilley 5-3 Jimmy White
2022: Lee Walker 5-4 Jimmy White
2022 World Seniors Snooker Championship draw
There is a mix of players from all around the world in this year’s tournament, with current professionals, former pros, and amateurs over the age of 40 all involved.
It promises to be an interesting few days with a selection of old stars in action.
Fans will of course be there in numbers to support the likes of White, Hendry, Ken Doherty, and Joe Johnson.
But former world number two Tony Knowles and Malta’s Tony Drago are among the other notable names in attendance.
Alfie Burden, who recently dropped off the main tour, is in the field for the first time.
Last 16
Best of five (5)
1. Lee Walker vs Gerard Greene
Wed, May 3 – 7pm
2. Peter Lines vs Ben Hancorn
Fri, May 5 – est. 2:30pm
3. Stephen Hendry vs Darren Morgan
Fri, May 5 – 7pm
4. Ken Doherty vs Alfie Burden
Thurs, May 4 – 7pm
5. Jimmy White vs Philip Williams
Fri, May 5 – est. 9:30pm
6. Joe Johnson vs Adrian Ridley
Fri, May 5 – 12pm
7. Tony Drago vs Vito Puopolo
Thurs, May 4 – est. 9:30pm
8. Mark Davis vs Tony Knowles
Wed, May 3 – est. 9:30pm
The quarter-finals will take place on May 6 with the semi-finals and final on May 7.
Times in BST.
How to watch the World Seniors Snooker Championship
In the UK, the event will be live on the BBC Red Button and the iPlayer.
Viewers in all other countries and territories except China will be able to follow live play via a Matchroom.Live subscription.
Featured photo credit: WSS ; Photographer: Andy Chubb
Be great to watch stars of yesteryear pity few more players could enter but never mind be good to watch peter
I’m sure Tony Knowles is a late addition to the draw as I can’t remember his name being pulled out when I saw the live draw on the BBC.
Drago in the field this year adds extra spice. He’s one of my all-time favourite players.
Yeah, Knowles is a replacement for Mohamed Khairy, who had visa problems.
WHY!! couldn’t it be on PROPER TELEVISION ? instead of the RED BUTTON YOU NEVER THINK OF ELDERLY PEOPLE who have no idea of All this up to date Stuff SHAME ON YOU
Carol, if you’re in the UK another way to potentially access the Red Button is by typing in the channel number on your remote. I’ve just got freeview channels on my set (it’s a smart TV for apps like i-player) and I always press 601 when I want to watch the snooker or other sports on the red button service.
The viewing figures for seniors snooker would probably fail to be high enough to justify airtime on BBC 2 or 4, especially given the extensive coverage broadcast on those channels during the World Championship.