Steadman Makes Perfect Start to Crucible Race
Craig Steadman beat Dean Galbally 4-0 to win the first World Seniors Tour event of the new season at The Crucible Club in Reading, England.
Last year’s World Seniors Snooker Championship semi-finalist made the perfect start to the campaign as he came through a record field of 68 players to take an early lead in the race to the Crucible Theatre.
Steadman, who earned a return to the professional ranks at the end of last season via the WPBSA Q Tour Play-Offs, was one of three current World Snooker Tour (WST) players in the star-studded line-up – alongside former ranking event winner Ryan Day and 2021 World Seniors champion David Lilley.
He made the perfect start by whitewashing Roshan Bappoo in the last 64 with a top break of 112 – a contribution only eclipsed over the weekend by Lilley (132) and James Brown (133).
A 4-1 defeat of last years four-time event winner Gerard Greene followed before Steadman overcame Karl Ashmore (4-1) and Stuart Watson (4-0) to set up a semi-final contest with Lilley.
Breaks of 61 and 51 put Steadman 2-0 ahead and he never looked back as a visit of 78 in the sixth frame completed a 4-2 win and earned him a place in the final.
Galbally, aged 42, was awaiting him in the title match after he had beaten last season’s qualifier Daniel Ward in the last four, after Ward had previously stunned former top 16 player Day in the previous round.
The day ultimately belonged to Steadman though, as he offered up an assured performance that featured breaks of 77 and 83 to earn a 4-0 victory and the first title of the campaign.
Martin Wins Super Seniors
Wayne Martin defeated Dean Sycamore 2-1 at The Crucible Club in Reading to win the second Super Seniors title of his career.
A record 29 players entered the one-day event for players aged over-55 and it was Martin who beat William Cornish (2-0), Dean Powell (2-1), Tony Morgan (2-1) and Neil Carroll (2-0) to reach the final.
There he faced Sycamore, who took a dramatic opening frame on the black. Martin battled back, however, to force a decider before finding breaks of 30 and 42 in the last frame to win the title.
Event two takes place at The Crucible Club in Reading on 25-27 September and entries are open via WPBSA SnookerScores.
