Friday 5 November 2010

Snooker heroes return

Today sees the start of the first World Seniors Championships in 19 long years.

Fans favourites including Peter Ebdon, Nigel Bond, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor, Joe Johnson, Steve Davis, John Parrott, Cliff Thorburn and Ken Doherty will be taking to the baize at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.

It's rather fitting that Yorkshire plays host to this eagerly-anticipated event as it was 1986 world champ Johnson, the competition's organiser, who fought so hard to make sure it happened.

Popular Yorkshireman Joe was part of the all star line-up which played in the 1997 Seniors Pot Black competition, and ever since he's had the burning desire to relaunch a Seniors Championships as per the format six years previously.

Well today his dream becomes a reality. It will be a treat for him, the rest of the players and all the fans who have tickets.

It's time to sit back, relax, and watch all of these great players roll back the years before our very eyes.

Today's match, the only qualifier, pits 2002 world champion Ebdon against 1995 Crucible runner-up Bond, with the winner earning the final quarter-final place.

Tomorrow the real action begins. In the daytime sessions, the four best-of-three-frame quarter-finals will be played. With such a short format in store, the matches couldn't be more open, which should make for some entertaining matches.

In the evening, the final four will return to play the competition to a conclusion for Sunday. The semi-final a race to three frames and the final a best-out-of-seven match.

The event promises to be full of entertainment with many of the game's biggest characters present, but I'm sure there will be no lack of quality either.

With a £20,000 cheque up for grabs for the eventual winner, these cue masters will be pulling out all the stops, and eager to put on a show too.

While winning this event clearly carries financial benefit, being crowned the champion of champions in this event will also hold much kudos among the sport's eldest supporters.

This tournament really is wide open. With five of the nine players still competing on the pro tour, they may just about have the edge, but this is certainly no guarantee.

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