Success for Figueiredo earns him a place in the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre – the iconic venue where he defeated Ken Doherty in the 2024 final to win the biggest title of his career to date.

The Brazilian defeated his fellow countryman to lift the continental seniors crown for the second time in three years, having also won the title in 2023 on home soil in Rio de Janeiro.

A field of 48 cueists from Brazil, USA, Canada and Trinidad & Tobago embarked on the Aryan Snooker Club for the four-day event which was organised by the Pan American Billiards & Snooker Association (PABSA).

Figueiredo kicked off the event in style with an opening day break of 141, the highest of the tournament, and went on to top the six-player group phase with a clean sweep of victories and no frames dropped.

Knockout round wins against the American duo of Steven Wong (3-0) and Daren Mark Taylor (4-1) saw the 47-year-old join an all-Brazilian semi-final line-up alongside Itaro Santos, Moreira and defending champion Fabio Anderson Luersen.

A top break of 44 was enough for Figueiredo to defeat fellow former professional Santos 4-1 in the last four to set up a title match meeting with Moreira after he had been victorious by the same scoreline.

Figueiredo raced into a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven frame final with contributions of 35 and 62 and, despite a brief rally from Moreira, a further break of 60 saw the Brazilian get over the line as a 4-1 winner to secure the title.

Attention now turns to the 2025 Pan American Open Snooker Championship which runs from 3-7 September and offers a two-year World Snooker Tour (WST) tour card to the winner.

Live scores, results, and streaming will be available at cloudsnooker.com, with coverage also available on PABSA’s official Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels.

The post Igor Figueiredo Wins Pan American Seniors Title to Earn Crucible Return appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

The Englishman will face former champion Aaron Canavan in the quarter-finals after he overcame Andrew Norman 4-2 in the concluding match of the opening day, while recent former professionals Joe Perry and Dominic Dale set up a mouthwatering last eight clash with respective 4-2 wins against Brazil’s Fabio Anderson Luersen and England’s Craig Steadman.

A total of 16 players from nine countries embarked on the sport’s most iconic venue for the latest edition of the World Seniors Snooker Championship and the opening day, which came less than 48 hours after Zhao Xintong lifted snooker’s biggest prize at the same venue.

The big story of the day saw an emotional Townsend end the hopes of defending champion Figueiredo at the first hurdle in dramatic fashion, taking both the first and last frames on the final black to get over the line a 4-2 victor.

Post-match, Townsend said: “I’m on cloud nine. It’s not fully sunk in but I’ve calmed down a little bit now. It doesn’t come better than this – I was playing the world champion and I’ve knocked him out! There’s no reason why I can’t be the world champion and there is nobody here I can’t beat.”

He will face 2018 World Seniors Snooker champion Canavan in the last eight after he downed fellow qualifier Norman to reach the quarter-finals.

The current World Seniors Snooker world number one lost the opener but hit back with a break of 89 and from there, he never looked back as he took the next three frames to get over line and set up a meeting with Townsend.

“I felt well today, I’ve been practicing hard for the past three or four weeks so I’m very happy with the shape of my game. I’ve been lucky enough to play here a few times so it is getting more familiar which, in turn, means you don’t put so much pressure on yourself. If you enjoy it then the chances are that you will play better.” Canavan reflected after the match.

Earlier in the day, seniors snooker debutants Perry and Dale made the perfect start to life after retirement from the professional ranks by each reaching the last eight during the event’s opening session.

In the opening match of the day, Perry and Pan-American Seniors champion Luersen put on a stunning display as ‘The Gentleman’ hit breaks of 76, 76 and 94 while his Brazilian opponent countered with a 74 of his own to put the scoreline at 3-1.

Luersen narrowed the deficit to one by taking frame five but it was too little too late as a confident Perry got over the line in the next to set up a enthralling quarter-final clash with Dale.

Perry said: “I really enjoyed it. I was a little bit nervous which I was pleased about, I didn’t want to be flat and not care. If I score like that when I get my chances then it’s going to be a good game for someone to beat me.”

Fellow recently-retired former professional Dale secured a 4-2 victory over European Seniors champion Steadman to become the second player into the last eight.

The match got off to a scrappy start but Dale was able to take the first two frames before Steadman hit back to restore parity. ‘The Spaceman’ had scored just five points in the previous two frames but was able to step up a gear with contributions of 40 and 107 to book his place in the last eight.

“I’m really pleased with my response from 2-2. To win a tournament at the Crucible would be fantastic – it’s a special place to play!” Dale said after the match.

The first round concludes tomorrow from 12:00 BST with Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Tony Drago and Tony Knowles in action live on Channel 5 and 5Action.

The post Townsend Stuns Defending Champion to Join Perry, Dale and Canavan in the Quarters appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

The Champion of Champions features winners of major events from the preceding 12 months and Brazil’s Figueiredo will feature in the line-up alongside the likes of defending champion Mark Allen and reigning world champion Kyren Wilson.

The 46-year-old claimed an historic victory for South American snooker in May at the Crucible Theatre as he defeated Ken Doherty to lift the World Seniors Snooker Championship title for the first time.

Having qualified as the Pan American Seniors champion, he defeated Tessa Davidson, defending champion Jimmy White and Tony Drago to set up a final meeting with Doherty.

Figueiredo, who featured on the professional tour in spells between 2010 and 2022, then defeated the 1997 world champion 5-2 to take the title.

The 2024 Champion of Champions will take place at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton on 11-17 November.

The post Igor Figueiredo Confirmed For Champion of Champions appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

The success saw the Brazilian secure back-to-back televised titles on the World Seniors Snooker tour as he followed up on his victory in the World Seniors Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre back in May.

The unique event, which sees the competitors face off in single-frame shootouts of no more than 15 minutes (or 900 seconds) and was shown live on Channel 5, began with a repeat of the Crucible final from earlier this year as 900 format debutant Figueiredo took on Ken Doherty.

The man known as ‘The Darling of Dublin’ had arrived in England at around 5am that morning, following time as a player and pundit at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in Riyadh, but showed no signs of fatigue as a break of 67 saw him gain revenge on his Brazilian opponent.

Doherty would follow this up with a further group stage victory over Barry Pinches, another debutant to the format, to secure his place in the semi-finals.

Malta’s Tony Drago was the first man to join him in the knockout stages as he secured a duo of impressive victories over four-time World Seniors champion Jimmy White and seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.

Back-to-back victories for both Doherty and Drago meant that the final two group stage encounters were effectively knockout matches, with the two winners securing their places in the last four.

Breaks of 49 and 46 were enough for Figueiredo to overcome Pinches in the first of these contests, before White and Hendry renewed their famous rivalry in front of the Hull crowd – with a break of 66 from ‘The Whirlwind’ earning him the last semi-final spot.

The action continued to come thick and fast in East Yorkshire as the event entered the knockout stages and it was the two group runner-ups who set up a final meeting as White overcame Doherty in a repeat of the 2020 World Seniors Championship final, before Figueiredo continued his fine form by defeating Drago.

The title match saw the two most recent winners of the World Seniors Championship go head to head in a best-of-three frame contest.

White compiled the highest break of the day to take the opener with a 69 but, fittingly, the event would ultimately be decided by a final frame shootout as Figueiredo hit back with a 66 to restore parity.

‘The Whirlwind’, who has been defeated in the previous two Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 finals, look set to finally get his hands on the trophy as he was in the balls in the final frame on a break of 40.

Dramatically, however, White broke down allowing the Brazilian to clear up and seal the victory on the final black before letting out an ecstatic roar in celebration.

Post-match, Figueiredo said: “It’s a fantastic time for me, my career and for the Americas as well. I think it was a fantastic final, I feel over the moon with that clearance – I don’t believe it! I enjoy playing in the World Seniors events and I want to fix my place here and come back for every tournament.”

The post Brilliant Brazilian Igor Wins Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 Title in Hull appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

Contested at the former home of the UK Seniors Championship, the event features a new and exciting format where anything can happen. Each match will last 15 minutes (900 seconds) and has a 20-second shot clock in play at all times, allowing for unmissable action that has proven a hit with fans and players alike.

Among those in action are seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who won the inaugural staging in Epsom in December, and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty – who lifted the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 title on home soil at the iconic Goffs venue earlier this year.

They are joined by reigning World Seniors champion Igor Figueiredo, four-time World Seniors champion Jimmy ‘The Whirlwind’ White, Malta’s Tony ‘The Tornado’ Drago and former ranking event winner Barry Pinches.

How It Works

All matches throughout the tournament are just a single frame and each of these frames has a time limit of just 15 minutes. Should the frame not be complete at the end of the allocated 15 minutes, whoever is leading the frame claims the win. 

Played with a spotted cueball, cueists have just 20 seconds per shot and there are no extensions or time-outs (unless at the discretion of the referee). 

For every shot played, either a ball must be potted, or a cushion must be struck with the cueball or an object ball. 

All fouls result in cueball in hand for the opponent. 

At the end of the 15 minutes, should the players be tied on points, a blue-ball shoot-out will be used to determine the winner. 

The six players will compete in two round-robin groups of three players, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals. The winner of Group A will face the runner-up in Group B, and the winner of Group B will face the runner-up in Group A in the last four.

Group A

Sunday’s action will begin with a rematch of May’s World Seniors Championship final between Ken Doherty and Igor Figueiredo.

Brazil’s Figueiredo ran out a 5-2 victor at the Crucible Theatre to lift the prestigious trophy and will be looking to repeat the feat on his Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 debut in Hull.

The two recent World Seniors Championship finalists are joined by former ranking event winner Barry Pinches, who is also making his debut under the fast-paced and exciting format.

Group B

Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White will renew their storied rivalry at the Connexin Live in Hull as the two meet in the group stages.

The two contested the first ever Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 final in December, with Hendry coming out on top in Epsom, before White gained revenge at Goffs by eliminating the seven-time world champion at the semi-final stage.

Hendry and White are joined in the group by Malta’s Tony Drago, who reached the semi-finals of this year’s World Seniors Championship in Sheffield.

Schedule

The action gets underway at 13:00 BST on Sunday, broadcast live on Channel 5.

• Group Stages (Single-Frame Shootout)

• • (A) Igor Figueiredo v Ken Doherty
  • (B) Jimmy White v Tony Drago
  • (A) Barry Pinches v Winner of Match 1
  • (B) Stephen Hendry v Winner of Match 2
  • (A) Barry Pinches v Loser of Match 1
  • (B) Stephen Hendry v Loser of Match 2

• Semi Finals (Single-Frame Shootout)

• • Winner of Group A v Runner-Up of Group B
  • Winner of Group B v Runner-Up of Group A

• Final (Best of 3 Frames)

• • Winner of Semi-Final 1 v Winner of Semi-Final 2

Limited tickets remain available via the Connexin Live website – click here.

The post Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 | Hull Preview appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

The event, which will be broadcast live on Channel 5, will bring some of the most decorated names in the sport to the city for the third edition of the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900, following victory for seven-time world champion Hendry in Epsom and an emotional success for Doherty on home soil at Goffs in March.

Reigning World Seniors champion Igor Figueiredo, ‘The Tornado’ Tony Drago and Barry Pinches also feature in the line-up at the former home of the UK Seniors Championship in East Yorkshire.

Jason Francis, Chairman of World Seniors Snooker said, “It is brilliant to return to Hull, a city that has welcomed World Seniors Snooker with open arms for many years. The field contains the four players who contested the semi-finals of the recent Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre, as well as two icons of the game in Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry.”

Tickets start from just £10 and offer the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of top class snooker played under the exciting ‘900’ format, with each frame only lasting a maximum of 15 minutes (900 seconds).

Former world champion Dennis Taylor will also be in Hull as part of the TV commentary team and will host a special ‘VIP Legends Lunch’ which will see snooker fans enjoy a champagne two course meal and a front row seat for the action.

To book tickets go to www.connexinlivehull.com.

The post Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker 900 Heads to Hull appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

Since December 2023, the WSS tour has achieved remarkable success by bringing household names such as Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor into the front rooms of millions people via the free-to-air channel in the UK.

The recent Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker Championship, held at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, saw the first ever cue sports world champion from South America as Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo lifted the crown, while there were also victories from Hendry in Epsom and an emotional Doherty at Goffs in Ireland for the Mr Vegas Snooker 900 events.

WSS Chairman Jason Francis said “This year has been a breakthrough for World Seniors Snooker and we are finally getting the platform that this project deserves.

“We now have a brilliant free-to-air broadcaster in Channel 5, as well as a great supporting title sponsor in Mr Vegas and some brilliant tour partners who have been with us at every event. The key now is to use what we have done so far to stage many more events for both amateur and professional senior snooker players globally”

Raphael Pendergast from Channel 5 said “The tournament was a real success and the feedback from the audience has been massively positive, we are delighted to see that the event achieved great TV numbers.”

The post 8.7 Million Watch World Seniors Snooker Events on Channel 5 appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

The victory marks the greatest success of the 46-year-old’s career as he becomes the first player from outside of Europe to lift the prestigious World Seniors crown and secures the £20,000 winner’s cheque, the £2,000 high break prize and entry into the Champion of Champions.

For Doherty, the wait goes on to complete a unique ‘grand slam’ as the World Seniors title continues to elude the Irish former World Professional, World Amateur and World Under-21 champion.

Figueiredo qualified for the event as the Pan-American Seniors champion was unarguably a deserved champion, dropping just four frames as he defeated World Women’s Seniors champion Tessa Davidson, 4-time and defending champion Jimmy White and Tony Drago before overcoming 1997 World champion Doherty in the title match.

‘The Darling of Dublin’ had shown his grit and determination in making the final, coming from behind against both Tyson Crinis and Dechawat Poomjaeng before securing a 4-1 victory over Barry Pinches in the last four, and he made a dream start to the Sunday afternoon contest by firing in a break of exactly 100 to take an early lead.

The Brazilian, who wrapped up his semi-final match with back-to-back centuries, continued to show his break-building prowess as he compiled breaks of 72 and 93 to storm into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.

The fifth frame saw a potential turning point when Figueiredo looking to be clearing up to take it but missed the green to allow Doherty a seemingly golden opportunity to reduce the deficit. However, the Irishman was unable to capitalise as he too jawed the green to leave his Brazilian opponent with the simplest of chances to move one away from victory.

Doherty briefly rallied in emphatic fashion with two half centuries in the sixth to make it 4-2, but it was too little too late as an emotional Figueiredo fired in an 88 clearance for glory before punching the air in front of a joyous Crucible crowd.

“I don’t have the words for this moment – I’m still sleeping or dreaming!” Figueiredo said after the victory.

“I think I played very well. I am very happy that people enjoyed it and for the people in Brazil. I have a lot of people behind me giving me support – thank you so much.

“I came in very confident but also nervous because it was a very important moment, not only for myself and my history but for the Americas – it is very important for current players and for the future generation.”

World Seniors Snooker would like to thank Channel 5, Mr Vegas Casino and everyone involved in making the 2024 World Seniors Snooker Championship a success.

The post Igor Figueiredo is the Mr Vegas World Seniors Snooker Champion appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

Both players are aiming to lift the World Seniors title for the first time in their career and they will face off on Sunday afternoon in a best-of-nine frame title match.

Doherty is now one victory away from the completion of an historic ‘grand slam’ which would see him add the Seniors crown alongside the World Under-21, World Amateur and World Professional titles he won in 1989 and 1997 respectively.

Meanwhile, Figueiredo becomes the first ever cueist from outside of Europe to reach the final of the tournament and success against Doherty would represent the biggest victory of the 46-year-old’s career.

Unstoppable Igor Fires Through

Figueiredo gave the finest performance of the tournament so far to wrap up a 4-1 victory over ‘The Tornado’ Tony Drago with back-to-back century breaks.

The high-scoring nature of the contest may have come as a surprise to those watching the opening frame which was a nervy affair and saw neither player able to build up any rhythm as the Brazilian took it on the final blue.

The break-building quickly arrived for both players as Drago levelled the game with a break of 69 before Figueiredo restored his advantaged with his first half-century of the afternoon.

A stunning break of 110 from Figueiredo, the first century break of this year’s tournament, moved the Brazilian one frame away from the final and he charged over the line in emphatic fashion by firing in a 119 to complete the victory with impressive back-to-back centuries.

After reaching Sunday’s final, Figueiredo said: “I am very happy – I played very well in the last two frames. Two century breaks is not bad for myself! I am very happy to get into the final.

The Brazilian credits his wife Camilla for his upturn in form and he said after the victory: “My wife is my heart, she inspires me a lot and gives me power and support. My life changed after my wife and I do everything for her.”

Crafty Ken Into Second Seniors Final

Doherty booked his place in a first Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship final since 2020 by defeating Barry Pinches 4-1 in the semi-final.

The Irishman offered his best performance of the event so far and will be aiming to quash the memories of his last World Seniors final, when he led Jimmy White 4-0 at the Crucible before succumbing to a 5-4 defeat.

There was clear tension early on in the contest with the first frame taking over half an hour before Doherty crucially took it on the final black.

The 1997 World champion ultimately needed three visits to take the second frame, but eventually got over the line, before an unexpected miss from an out-of-sorts Pinches allowed Doherty to move one away from victory at 3-0.

The Englishman briefly rallied to pull a frame back at 3-1, but it was too little too late as ‘The Darling of Dublin’ completed the victory in frame five to set up a Sunday afternoon final meeting with Figueiredo.

“I got off to a good start by winning that black ball game and I’m thrilled to bits to get through to the final” Doherty reflected post-match.

“It was a really tough match and I’m a bit jaded but just so excited about tomorrow and the final against Igor Figueiredo.

“I’m not going to count any chickens, I’m just going to go out and play my best and give it all I can. I definitely want to win this tournament, it’s one I want to tick off my list, but I have a very tough opponent in front of me.”

The final will take place on Sunday from 12pm and you can watch LIVE on Channel 5 in the UK.

Limited tickets remain available.

The post Doherty and Figueiredo Set Up Crucible Final appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.

The Brazilian will now face ‘The Tornado’ Tony Drago in the last four after he overcame Stuart Watson in the evening session, while Ken Doherty survived another scare against Dechawat Poomjaeng to set up a meeting with Barry Pinches on Saturday afternoon.

Figueiredo previously reached the last four at the Crucible Theatre in 2021, when it was ‘The Whirlwind’ who denied him a place in the title match, and so the Brazilian was out for revenge as he charged into an early lead without allowing his opponent a chance at a pot.

The second frame looked pivotal as White needed a snooker on the blue, but managed to get it, only to allow Figueiredo back in to pot a decisive pink and double his advantage.

White had managed to come from 2-0 behind in his opening match against Andrew Norman the previous day, but this time it wasn’t to be as the visibly frustrated 62-year-old missed a black off the spot to allow his Brazilian opponent in and he duly took advantage of the opportunity to wrap up the whitewash win.

The result means the event is guaranteed a new champion for the first time since 2022 after both former champions White and Darren Morgan fell within the first two rounds.

“It’s a very big victory and important both for myself and for the Americas” a delighted Figueiredo reflected post-match.

“I didn’t play fantastic and it was a nervous game but I think I played solid. I hope to win (the tournament), it would be very important for myself and my history, but also it would help a new generation in the Americas. I want to give this support and this belief to those players.”

Ken Survives Again

Doherty had to once again dig deep to keep his dreams of a maiden Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship crown alive as he came from 2-1 down to defeat Poomjaeng 3-2 and reach the semi-finals for the first time since his heartbreaking final defeat to White in 2020 from 4-0 ahead.

The Irishman, who fell at the first hurdle last year, got off to a slow start as his charismatic Thai opponent took the opener in two visits – but the 1997 World champion hit back in the next with a break of 45 to level the contest.

Poomjaeng moved within one of victory with a break of 50 in the third after Doherty was caught out by the shot clock when using the long spider on an awkward black, but Doherty once again showed his fighting spirit to force a deciding frame with a break of 51.

Just as he had in his opening round victory over debutant Tyson Crinis, the Irishman once again saved his best for last as a superb break of 70 put Doherty into the last four where he will face Pinches.

Following his victory, Doherty said: “I’m so relieved to be honest. Dechawat was playing really well and at 2-1 down it was looking a little bit dodgy but I’m delighted to come back and show a bit of character.”

The Tornado Weathers The Storm

An emotional Tony Drago reached the semi-finals of the Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship for a second consecutive year in dramatic fashion.

His meeting with Stuart Watson, who had beaten Tony Knowles in the previous round, saw the oldest and youngest competitors left standing in the competition go head to head and it was the Maltese cueist who made a dream start with a current tournament high break of 91 in the opener at an average of just 11 seconds per shot.

The next two frames were defined by crucial missed browns as both came down to the colours.

Watson looked set to level in the second, but a missed brown allowed Drago to force a respot and it was him who potted the black to double his advantage to 2-0. The roles were then reversed in the third, as Drago jawed a tricky brown to the middle pocket to allow Watson to clean up and keep his hopes alive.

It was a tight affair and the fourth frame also came down to the final colours.

The Englishman looked certain to be forcing a decider in the opening match of the evening session but he somehow missed a relatively simple black to the green pocket, leaving Drago the simplest of pots to wrap up the victory.

Drago was visibly emotional after the match and, with tears in his eyes, reflected: “It feels great but I am just a bit disappointed because I know I am playing well but all of a sudden you make a mistake and it’s game on.

“I’m one of those people – unfortunately, the performance means more to me than winning. I shouldn’t be going through the way I am playing, I should make it easier because it was all over the place – I was on top and then all of a sudden, if he didn’t miss that black, he probably would have won.”

Pinches Denies Wattana To Reach Last Four

Pinches battled through a late night contest against James Wattana to reach the semi-finals of the Mr Vegas World Seniors Championship.

Both players had chances to take the opener – Wattana opening with a 44 break before Pinches hit back with a 40 of his own, but it was the man from Norwich who eventually took it on the colours courtesy of an excellent long green.

The Englishman, who lost to Wattana in the 1988 World Amateur Championship final, doubled his lead with a break of 54 in the second frame but missed a pink off the spot in the next to allow the Thai cueiest to keep the match alive.

Ultimately, however, it was Pinches that was able to get over the line by the winning margin of 3-1 and he will now face 1997 World champion Doherty in the semi-finals.

Pinches said: “I think it was a decent performance. I missed a few balls, but not too many easy ones, but I just tried to make it difficult for James because I know he’s had a long trip from Thailand so if you can keep him off the table and not let him in the balls then that always helps and I think I did a fairly good job of that.”

Four nations will be represented in the semi-finals which take place on Saturday from 12pm and you can watch LIVE on Channel 5 in the UK.

Limited tickets remain available.

The post Figueiredo Blows Away The Whirlwind to Join Doherty, Drago and Pinches in Semi-Finals appeared first on WSS | World Seniors Snooker.