Jonck Earns Crucible Return in South Africa

Charl Jonck defeated Mohamed Elkhayat 5-3 to win the 2026 African Seniors Snooker Championship and earn a place in the 2027 World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre.

The continental crown means Jonck, from South Africa, will return to the iconic venue in Sheffield following an impressive debut in 2025 which saw him defeat 1997 world champion Ken Doherty in the opening round.

The African Seniors Championship is part of the All Africa Snooker Championships, organised by the African Billiards & Snooker Confederation (ABSC), and also features a Main event where the winner will earn a two-year World Snooker Tour (WST) tour card.

Jonck was part of a 40-player field in his home nation and he topped his group with a clean sweep of victories before defeating Habib Bulaty 3-0 in the opening knockout round.

Wins against Kevin Shelver (4-1), Mervin Donnelly (4-1) and fellow former South African national champion Abdul Mutalieb Allie (5-0) then earned Jonck a place in the final where he met defending champion Elkhayat.

The Egyptian was aiming for an immediate return to the Crucible Theatre, where he lost in the opening round to Igor Figueiredo earlier this year, and he last defeated Mohamed Limbada 5-1 to reach the title match.

It proved to be Jonck’s day, however, as he ran out a 5-3 victor to earn his place back at the most famous venue in snooker.