Won a year ago by the ever-popular ‘People’s Champion’ Jimmy White, the tournament will see a distinguished line-up of 16 players including ‘King of the Crucible’ Stephen Hendry and 1997 champion of the world Ken Doherty, will battle it out to lift the trophy at the home of snooker.

For the first time the tournament will be broadcast live on BBC digital platforms with selected matches available on the ‘Red Button.’ Coverage in China will be shown on major digital TV platforms and across the USA via the Matchroom.Live.

ROKiT Phones – pioneers of the glasses-free 3D phone with onboard Value Added Services – will once again be the title sponsor to the event, continuing a partnership which saw the telecommunications company become the naming rights partner of the WSS Tour in 2019.

The event will be held behind closed doors with no tickets available for spectators due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All-Star Line-up

An international field of 16 players will be led by defending champion Jimmy White, who will be joined by seven-time world professional champion Stephen Hendry, the ‘Darlin of Dublin’ Ken Doherty and our reigning UK Seniors champion Michael Judge as the four seeded players kept apart until the semi-finals

The remaining 12 players will be randomly placed in the draw, including former world champions Dennis Taylor and Joe Johnson, as well as former top 10 duo Tony Knowles and Tony Drago. Also set to compete at the Crucible are former World Seniors Snooker champions Peter Lines, Nigel Bond, Aaron Canavan and Darren Morgan.

The draw will be completed by WSS Tour players Leo Fernandez, Patrick Wallace, Rodney Goggins and Gary Filtness.

The inclusion of current professional players has been made possible following a landmark new agreement between WSS and World Snooker Tour which will now allow lower ranked tour players over 40 to compete at WSS events. Players not automatically invited to tournaments will be eligible to enter future qualifying events.

Jason Francis, WSS Chairman said: “The ROKiT Phones World Seniors Snooker Tour has gone from strength to strength and despite these difficult times globally we are delighted to be able to deliver a truly world class event live on the BBC and around the world. I would like to thank our title sponsor ROKiT Phones for their continued support and look forward to seeing some fantastic snooker played later this month.”

Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “It is always such a treat to see snooker’s grand masters reappear at the Crucible Theatre. Few could forget the great sporting moments and entertainment these former champions have given us.

“The WPBSA strategy is to grow a sport for all, from aspiring juniors, elite amateurs, professional tour players through to the incredible entertainment of the ROKiT World Seniors Tour. Snooker is a sport for life, and I would like to thank ROKiT Phones, our broadcasters, and partners for the opportunity to add this great event and tour to our group.”

Michael Coombes, ROKiT Phones CEO UK said: “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship to play a part in the Championship, and what will be without doubt, tension filled matches between prestigious players. To celebrate, all our viewers will also be able to benefit from an exclusive offer that will be shared on our website Partners page.”

Jonathan Kendrick, ROKiT Chairman said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with World Seniors Snooker, its great fans will be able to enjoy the action live on their ROKiT Phones for the very first time.”

The 2020 ROKIT Phones World Seniors Snooker Championship takes place from 19-22 August at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

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Current Chairman Jason Francis and director Jason Ferguson will be joined by John Parrott, David Murray and Rohit Sagoo, who will all support the next development phase of the ROKiT Phones World Seniors Snooker Tour.

Former world champion John Parrott has been a regular competitor on the circuit since its inception and joins as a non-executive player director to provide assistance and advice on playing matters. David Murray, a former BBC Sport Executive and now television and media consultant joins to assist in maximising the opportunities for people to enjoy watching snooker’s former greats who remain entertaining and highly competitive to this day.

Rohit Sagoo, a strategic appointment who is also a Lecturer at City, University of London who with the cooperation of the WPBSA has previously published a number of research studies including most recently a study which sought to evaluate the benefits of playing snooker to an older person’s well-being. Sagoo, a London based British Asian is keen to find more ways to use snooker to improve mental health and wellbeing. Sagoo has a vision to bring together people living in isolation in the areas where World Seniors Snooker events are staged, delivering a positive impact on local communities.

Jason Francis, ROKiT Phones World Seniors Snooker Chairman said: “Having spearheaded this project together with Jason Ferguson for the past two years it has become clear that we needed to add further specialist expertise to our board to help us to take the Tour to the next level and beyond.

“I am as excited today for the future of the Tour as I was at the very start. I am particularly excited about these three new strategic appointments, which will provide us with a safe platform to steer the ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Tour. Providing opportunities for players who are approaching retirement from the main tour, as well as continuing to provide an opportunity for any player of any gender over 40 to engage in sport is our priority. Our message is clear, no matter of age or gender, the opportunity is here to pick up a cue and stand on top of the world.”

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Later this month Hull will host some of the greatest ever snooker players including Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Cliff Thorburn and Dennis Taylor all competing at the 2018 UK Seniors Snooker Championship at the brand new £36 million Bonus Arena.

The announcement falls on the same day as the draw for this year’s event at the Guildhall, which will be conducted by the Lord Mayor.

Following significant interest in the UK Seniors Snooker Championship, Hull City Council, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and the Bonus Arena are delighted to announce that the annual event will now remain in Hull for at least the next three years.

Councillor Stephen Brady, leader of Hull City Council, said: “Today’s fantastic announcement shows that the city is refusing to rest on its laurels.

“Last month we launched our Conference Champions initiative that aims to bring more large conferences and events, like the UK Seniors Snooker Championship, to Hull.

“Events like this attract thousands of people to the city, spending money in bars, restaurants, shops and hotels, which is a great boost to the local economy.”

“I’m sure – like with everything else –Hull will embrace the UK Seniors Snooker Championship and we can establish ourselves as a snooker city.”

The UK Seniors Snooker Championship is one of the marque events on the international World Seniors Snooker tour.

Jason Ferguson, chairman of WPBSA, said: “Snooker is a booming global sport and we are delighted that Hull has joined us to become our latest snooker city.

“Hull is clearly a city with ambition and we are excited to bring our new World Seniors Tour to the magnificent facilities at the new Bonus Arena.

“I am sure our snooker stars will provide great entertainment and plenty of drama for the people of Hull.”

The 2018 UK Seniors Snooker Championship will be staged at the Bonus Arena on October 24 and 25. Tickets start from £8.

There will be six sessions over the two days with the final on October 25.

Dan Harris, General Manager at the Bonus Arena, said: “I am delighted the UK Seniors Snooker will be calling Hull home for the next three years.

“We are delighted with the response to the event on 24 and 25 October with thousands of tickets already sold to see legends of the game such as Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor.

“Having such a strong response – combined with the desire of World Seniors Snooker and Hull City Council to keep the event in the city – means we can build on Hull’s reputation as a true snooker city.”

For more information about World Seniors Snooker visit www.wpbsa.com/play/world-seniors-snooker-tour/

To book tickets visit www.bonusarenahull.com/whats-on/2018-uk-seniors-snooker-championship

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World Seniors Snooker (WSS) is today proud to announce that Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn and John Virgo will all represent the World Seniors Snooker Tour as global ambassadors and help to develop opportunities worldwide.

Jason Francis, WSS chairman said: “John, Dennis and Cliff are icons of the sport, known worldwide and respected by everyone. All three have been with us since the start and it’s important we recognise not only the part they have played in the formation of the World Seniors Snooker Tour, but we ensure they remain a key part of it as we continue to grow over the coming years.”

Jason Ferguson, WPBSA chairman said: “Through WSS we are delighted to be able to officially recognise some of our sporting greats. The WPBSA is honoured that that these stars are able to give something back to our sport in this way.”

Learn more about the World Seniors Snooker Tour here.

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With this year’s European Championships currently ongoing in Romania we can confirm that the EBSA has been awarded a place in the WPBSA European Seniors Championship for the 2018 European Masters champion.

This initial three-year deal means that the Masters champion can look forward to representing the EBSA in competition alongside legends such as Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White until 2020.

Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the WPBSA and WSF President said “Our vision within the WPBSA Group and the WSF is to see more cooperation with regional bodies like the EBSA. This latest news demonstrates the partnership working which will provide more opportunities for players as our sport continues to grow.”

EBSA Chairman Maxime Cassis said: “This is fantastic news for the EBSA as it hugely increases the prestige of the EBSA Masters Snooker Championship. I am sure it will also bring motivation to most of the countries who are members of the EBSA to enter players in that great event: The World Seniors Snooker Tour.”

Learn more about the new WPBSA World Seniors Snooker Tour here.

If you are over 40, and a member of your national federation, you can enter a World Seniors Snooker Tour Qualifier now by clicking here.

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The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) is today delighted to announce the official formation of the WPBSA World Seniors Snooker Tour.

Following the statement last December that the WPBSA would engage to develop an official tour of events for players over 40, we can now confirm that a new subsidiary company known as World Seniors Snooker will be formed under the auspices of the WPBSA, which during the 2018/19 season will run a full calendar of six World Seniors ranking events.

Jason Francis, founder of Snooker Legends will be a partner in the company and brings a wealth of experience from his previous involvement in developing successful Legends events and more recently was granted the rights to run the World Seniors Championship on behalf of the World Snooker Tour. Following two successful events, the project now merits the support of snooker’s world governing body and its amateur international federation, the World Snooker Federation to continue its growth.

Francis will be joined on the board by WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson and WPBSA player director and current professional world number eight Shaun Murphy, who will both support the tour with their undoubted passion to develop amateur snooker globally.

Events

The 2018/19 calendar for the World Seniors Snooker Tour will comprise six major ranking events, highlighted by the World Seniors Championship to be held next March.

• European Seniors Open (venue TBC) – 11-14 October 2018
• UK Seniors Championship (Hull) – 23-25 October 2018
• Seniors Irish Masters (Goffs, Ireland) – 4-6 January 2019
• World Seniors 6-Red Championship (Belfast, Northern Ireland) – 2-3 March 2019
• World Seniors Championship (venue TBC) – 25-29 March 2019
• Seniors Masters (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) – 10-11 April 2019

These events will be supplemented by 15 qualifying tournaments, including new events in Canada, Hong Kong, Belgium and the United States of America. Each qualifier will carry a minimum €1,000 prize for the winner and a place at a World Seniors ranking event.

Key points

• The WPBSA World Seniors Snooker Tour will comprise six international ranking events during the 2018/19 season and carrying a total prize fund of £200,000.
• The first prize for the 2019 World Seniors Championship will increase from £10,000 to £25,000.
• There will be 15 international qualifying events staged during the season, each carrying a minimum first prize of €1,000.
• The WPBSA and the World Seniors Snooker Tour will continue to work together to provide a pathway for amateurs to be able to compete at professional events. The winners of the 2019 World Seniors Championship and now the 2018 UK Seniors Championship will both earn a place at the 2019 professional World Championship qualifiers.
• There will be a one-year amateur World Seniors ranking list, which will see the top 16 ranked players at the end of the season qualify for a new event to be staged at Blackpool’s Norbreck Castle In 2019.
• All players who currently, or go on to receive an Invitational Tour Card to play on the World Snooker Tour will be eligible to compete in World Seniors Tour events.

Dare to dream

Under the ‘dare to dream’ message World Seniors events staged during the past two years have seen many retired players picking up their cues again, with opportunities to either return to or even compete for the first time at some of snooker’s most iconic venues now available to them.

The WPBSA clearly recognises that there is a demand from many amateurs and the former greats of the professional sport who have still got the desire to play snooker competitively. The World Seniors Snooker Tour therefore provides an important facility by which retiring players from the professional World Snooker Tour will be able to extend their careers.

These events also carry a great nostalgia, evoking memories of great sporting moments that we have witnessed in snooker that have created the legends in our sport. Nobody will forget the first ever maximum 147 break made at the Crucible made by Canada’s Cliff Thorburn back in 1983 and so to see him lift the trophy at the same venue some 35 years later last month was a truly special moment.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: “Today we pay thanks to those greats who have helped bring our sport to where it is today. The tour will provide a supporting role to the World Snooker Tour, providing an attractive corporate model, being agile enough to work with amateur federations and new territories around the world and at the same time using great champions of the past to deliver our message.”

World Seniors chairman Jason Francis said: “It is a proud and historic day for me to help create new opportunities for players, whether they are former world champions or enthusiastic club players. I am grateful for the support from World Snooker and the WPBSA for helping us to make this a reality.”

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The event will be staged at the iconic Crucible Theatre, Sheffield on 12th April 2018 and see eight players battle it out to win the John Spencer Trophy.

Jason Francis of World Seniors Snooker said: “As a three-time world champion, the first winner of the Masters and former WPBSA Chairman, John did so much for the game and I’m delighted that his partner Jean has granted us permission to name our trophy in his honour!”

Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “John Spencer was not only a huge snooker star during the formative years of the modern era, memorably becoming the first player to win the World Championship at the Crucible, but he was also one of my snooker heroes as a young player. He also previously served as WPBSA Chairman and I have many very fond memories of him. I kept in touch with him and spoke to him just before he passed away.

“The decision to name this trophy after him is a fitting one and I am sure that the event will be a success.”

Following the conclusion of play at the final qualifier at Upton Park Snooker Centre earlier this month the line-up for the World Seniors Masters event was finalised.

Jonathan Bagley, a taxi driver from Leeds, defeated former professional Barry Pinches on the final black ball to become the final qualifier for the event. He will now realise a dream to walk out at the Crucible Theatre where he will face 1985 world champion Dennis Taylor.

Jonathan completes a stellar line-up for the event which will also see former professional Michael Judge, who won the first qualifying event in Newbury, come up against seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry in the last eight.

The full draw is:

Joe Johnson v Cliff Thorburn
Dennis Taylor v Jonathan Bagley
Stephen Hendry v Michael Judge
John Parrott v Willie Thorne

The winner will take home the John Spencer Trophy and a first prize of £7,500.

#daretodream

Images provided by David Muscroft.

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Whilst the World Snooker Tour has gone from strength to strength in recent years, it is vital that we consider the longevity of the careers of our players. We recognise the excellent work already carried out by Jason Francis and Snooker Legends in creating interest and events which many of our sporting greats now compete in. Our intention is to create a partnership with Jason to take what he has done global and create more playing opportunities for amateurs than ever before.

There is clearly a role to play for the WPBSA as snooker’s world governing body in ensuring this concept receives the attention and support it deserves. Globally, there are significant numbers of players who are over 40 who continue maintain a strong competitive instinct in our sport, this includes many passionate amateurs and includes both past and present World Snooker Tour players.

In support of the many players and the work of the World Snooker Federation as snookers IF, we are now engaged with the partners involved to build a tour of events as an official WPBSA World Seniors Snooker Tour.

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