Burden Begins Bid for Crucible Return in Style
Alfie Burden defeated Wayne Townsend 4-3 in the final of the first World Seniors Snooker (WSS) event of the brand new Race to the Crucible series at the Crucible Club in Reading.
Burden, who finished as runner-up to Jimmy White in the 2023 World Seniors Snooker Championship, came through a strong field in Reading to secure the maiden title of the series and make a perfect start to the campaign.
The Race to the Crucible series sees nine events held across the season with the top two ranked players at the conclusion of the final event earning places at the World Seniors Snooker Championship, while those who finish between third and tenth will qualify for the ‘Top 16 Shootout’ – where a further place in Sheffield will be on offer.
A total of 54 cueists from five nations headed to Berkshire for the three-day tournament which included former World Seniors champion Aaron Canavan and the 2023 runner-up Burden.
Breaks of 55 and 108 saw Burden make a strong start as he whitewashed Gary Widdecombe in the opening round. Further victories over Wayne Gibbins, Andy Lavin and Philip Williams then earned the current World Snooker Tour (WST) professional a place in the last four where he would face Dharminder Lilly.
After taking a scrappy opener, Burden burst into life with two half-centuries to move one away from the final before a stunning tournament high break of 127 secured the 47-year-old’s place in the title match in style.
Burden would face Townsend in the final after the 44-year-old had gone on an impressive run which included victories over former English Seniors champion Lee Stephens and 2018 World Seniors champion Canavan along the way.
A break of 56 from Burden saw him take an early lead in the best-of-seven frame contest but Townsend quickly hit back to restore parity.
The high-scoring Burden made five of the six century breaks compiled over the weekend and he found two of these in back-to-back frames of the final as he followed an outstanding 123 with a further contribution of 112 to move 3-1 ahead.
Townsend refused to go down without a fight and battled back to force a decider with an 86 in frame six, but Burden was able to get over the line in the next with help from a break of 55 to secure the title in the first event of the series.
Hunter Wins Super Seniors
John Hunter came through a field of 21 players to secure the first Super Seniors title of the season.
The event is open to all cueists over the age of 55 and was held on Sunday alongside the main Race to the Crucible series event.
The field included former UK champion Patsy Fagan, who reached the quarter-finals stage before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Andy Booker – who subsequently lost to Hunter by the same scoreline in the semi-finals as the 58-year-old secured his place in the title match.
There he faced Mukesh Parmar, after he had defeated David Brock in the semi-finals.
Hunter looked dominant in the opener of the final, taking the frame by a 70-8 scoreline, before taking the second by just six points to secure the title in Reading.
Event 2 of the Race to the Crucible series take place on 27-29 September and entry remains open via WPBSA SnookerScores.
