Joe Perry won his first title on the World Seniors Tour with a 7-5 victory over Jimmy White at the 2025 British Seniors Open in Derby on Sunday.
The Gentleman retired from the professional circuit at the end of last season after losing his spot among the top 64 of the world rankings.
But the 51 year-old proved that he still has plenty to offer the game, edging crowd favourite White in an entertaining encounter at the Vaillant Live.
Perry, who had beaten Stuart Bingham and Matthew Stevens in the earlier rounds, took the opening frame only to see his esteemed opponent rebound to move 2-1 in front.
A brace of 60-plus breaks from Perry in the fourth restored parity, and the former Welsh Open champion then moved ahead again with a terrific century break.
White subsequently edged a close sixth frame, and the topsy-turvy nature of the tie continued when the Whirlwind crept 4-3 clear with a break of 58.
After Perry made it 4-4 with a run of 79, the former World Championship semi-finalist went ahead once again before White compiled a break of 82 to set up a grandstand finale at 5-5.
The Londoner, by far and away the player with the best record on the World Seniors Tour, had beaten Ken Doherty and reigning world seniors champion Alfie Burden to reach the final.
But Perry regained control of the contest at just the right time, making the most of his chances in the remaining two frames – clinching victory with breaks of 95 and 73.
The three-day British Seniors Open was a successful event overall with big crowds in to watch the veterans of the baize strive to repeat past glories.
In general, the World Seniors Snooker Tour continues to have potential for growth but the apparent randomness of how the circuit operates, including the specifics surrounding how players get invited into draws, remains desperately frustrating.
Up next on its calendar will be the World Seniors Championship, which will take place at the Crucible Theatre in May.
2025 British Seniors Open
Quarter-Finals
Alfie Burden 4-0 Dominic Dale
Jimmy White 4-2 Ken Doherty
Matthew Stevens 4-3 Anthony Hamilton
Joe Perry 4-0 Stuart Bingham
Semi-Finals
Jimmy White 5-3 Alfie Burden
Joe Perry 5-3 Matthew Stevens
Final
Joe Perry 7-5 Jimmy White
Featured photo credit: WST
Impressive stuff from Perry. To beat three main tour players, one of whom is ranked just outside the top 16, adds extra gloss to his maiden success on the World Seniors Tour.
Coverage by Channel 5 was spoiled when they suddenly switched off coverage at 5/5.
By the time we had discovered it had moved to “5action” and found it, the match had finished!
Totally agree, very poor TV coverage
sack whoever is to blame for the shambolic way in which the seniors final was covered by channel 5 – seems to me 5 was more interested in making sure advertisements went out as often as possible!
They will probably not be so to cut it when it’s the main tour. I did think this would be an issue on 5 as 5 Action is a such obscure channel. It’s not like going from BBC One to Two or Two to BBC Four.
totaly agree, and our 5action did NOT show that the final was on its list of programs!!
Not looking forwards to the soooker that is due to be shown later in the year.