World Seniors Championship

[tetricky]

For me the key is nostalgia....if you're good enough to be a current player, you have no business entering the seniors, in my view. Bear in mind that Fred Davis was a world championship semi-finalist at the age of 64, and Cliff Wilsons entire professional career was as a senior......it's complicated.

I'd make qualification for the seniors in three parts. 1) Over a certain age. 2) A certain time must have passed since appearing in the main draw in a professional tournament. 3) Qualification based on professional tournament success.

The idea would be to encourage the likes of Steve Davis to play, and to discourage the likes of (no offense intended, mike Hallet and Anthony Hamilton).

....or rather, perhaps rebrand and have different tournament structures. Have an age band open to all tournament, but have a more restrictively qualified 'legends' tour/senior comp. We know there is a market for that......

[thommo335]

well its a good atmosphere here in Preston. scrappy first game with lots of black cushion safety meaning the reds were clustered in baulk making it look like a table on a cruise ship. all the players waxing lyrical re guild hall as a venue, think they've been told to big it up.....drago needn't have shown up. missed twice and milkins made two 80 odds goodnight my friend. shame milkins wasnt interested in the tons. could have had two but was recklessly quick once the frame was won. Johnson was a bit doddery missing a sitter of a black off its spot after a cracking long red. Hamilton ground out a good win against Williams. bring on the evening session given that there's fa to do in the building, no merchandise not even a sodding programme to be had, top effort world snooker. ....

Wow, not even a keyring to be bought in sight? WS slipping.

Zilch nada. ....as I say not even a program. **** poor

[Cyril]

The idea would be to encourage the likes of Steve Davis to play, and to discourage the likes of (no offense intended, mike Hallet and Anthony Hamilton).

Hamilton is still a puppy at 45 but did you mean Mike Hallett?

Surely he ticks all the boxes? Pretty distinguished career record, 56 years of age, been retired from the Tour for 10 years or so...

[tetricky]

I see the case for Hallett....but I'd probably try to engineer qualification for the 'legends' tour to include more than one ranking title win.

I'm thinking worlds, UK's, or possibly Masters, as well.

[itsnoteasy]

I see the case for Hallett....but I'd probably try to engineer qualification for the 'legends' tour to include more than one ranking title win.

I'm thinking worlds, UK's, or possibly Masters, as well.

You would struggle to get a field with those restriction Tetricky.

[Cyril]

I agree with your principle in there being a criteria from the point of view of making it more commercially attractive. If you made it multiple ranking event winners over age 45 years there wouldn't be that many.

Hallett's career CV stacks up pretty well to be fair. Only 1 ranking title but quite impressive nonetheless.

Career highest ranking: 6
Twice Masters Finalist
Twice Crucible quarterfinalist
Tournament wins:
1987 World Doubles
1988 Fosters Professional
1989 English Professional
1989 Hong Kong Open
1991 Belgian Masters
1991 Scottish Masters
1991 World Doubles

[tetricky]

You would struggle to get a field with those restriction Tetricky.

Depends on the prestige, and the (appearance and...) prize money. I just think that at some level you have to accommodate what people want to pay to see.

Jimmy, Nuggett, Parrot, Hendry, Taylor, Thorburn, Griffiths, McManus with Doherty, Ebdon, Higgins, ROS, MJW, ready to follow up. surely there has to be a way of crafting something out of that lot....with the odd place for others to fight for (the likes of Neal Foulds, etc).

I'm not claiming to have all the answers, i just think it might have more commercial appeal.

[bolton-cueman]

who's commentating with Clive on the Fergal O'Brien and Snorey McCelod match?

[narl]

Hamilton is still a puppy at 45 but did you mean Mike Hallett?

Surely he ticks all the boxes? Pretty distinguished career record, 56 years of age, been retired from the Tour for 10 years or so...

Hallett played in a ptc a few years back and lost to o'Sullivan 4-2 after winning his first 2 matches.

[Cyril]

I'd be a bit broader. Maybe something like all former top 16 ranked players plus ranking event winners over 45.

Think that would qualify the following:
Dean Reynolds
Stephen Hendry
Patsy Fagan
Cliff Thorburn
James Wattana
Dennis Taylor
Alan McManus
Peter Francisco
Willie Thorne
John Virgo
Gary Wilkinson
Tony Jones
Steve James
Jimmy White
Silvino Francisco
Darren Morgan
John Parrott
Bob Chaperon
Doug Mountjoy
Tony Knowles
Mike Hallett
Neal Foulds
Rex Williams
Alain Robidoux
David Taylor
Joe Johnson
Kirk Stevens
Steve Davis
Peter Ebdon
Joe Swail
David Roe
Ken Doherty
Tony Drago
Tony Meo
Ray Reardon
Perrie Mans
Terry Griffiths
Martin Clark
Nigel Bond
Dave Harold
Jim Meadowcroft

Obviously many of these wouldn't play. Rex Williams and Reardon are in their 80's now and others don't play at all such as Griffiths, Thorne, Virgo...

[mikeyd100]

A true legend but please please please Jimmy White, stop saying you could still win the World Championships.
Also interviewers stop goading him into saying it.

https://youtu.be/aYf1kCHyn3Y?t=4m24s

[mythman69]

A true legend but please please please Jimmy White, stop saying you could still win the World Championships.
Also interviewers stop goading him into saying it.

https://youtu.be/aYf1kCHyn3Y?t=4m24s

Yeah, I think his time has well passed. But it is possible that he could win the world championship. He just needs to win all his matches.

[Ramon]

A true legend but please please please Jimmy White, stop saying you could still win the World Championships.
Also interviewers stop goading him into saying it.

https://youtu.be/aYf1kCHyn3Y?t=4m24s

Lol , you never know what may happens . :snooker::

[thommo335]

Jim Meadowcroft

Obviously many of these wouldn't play..[/QUOTE]
Given that jim died last year and there were lots of appreciative and thoughtful comments on here about it. ..........

[Cyril]

Didn't know Jim had passed on. RIP.

Always enjoyed his commentary.