Judge Qualifies for Seniors British Open
Michael Judge recorded more success on the ROKiT Phones World Seniors Snooker circuit as he defeated Aaron Canavan 4-2 to qualify for the venue stages of next month’s World Seniors British Open.
Irishman Judge was the last player remaining from a qualifying event held at the Pot Black Clacton last weekend which featured nearly 70 cueists from across the UK and beyond. The former world number 24 continues to impress on the tour, having memorably won the UK Seniors Championship in Hull last October.
The 44-year-old reached the final day in Clacton after a trio of early round victories, which included him needing to claim the final two frames in order to oust Marcus Lord 3-2 in the last 32. In the quarter-finals he eliminated Karl Townsend 3-0 but was taken all the way to a deciding frame by Wayne Cooper in the last four. Cooper, who will appear at the Alexandra Palace later this year after qualifying for the Senior Open, took three frames in a row to lead 3-2 before Judge recovered to level and then produce a 76 break in the last.
Joining Judge in the final was Jersey’s Canavan, the 2018 World Seniors Champion. On his way there Canavan constructed a break of 120 during his last 32 defeat of Bal Sembi and ended the hopes of former world number two Tony Knowles in the last 16 and 1977 UK Championship winner Patsy Fagan in the semi-finals.
However, it was Judge who booked himself a first-round date with Jimmy White at the Plymouth Pavilions following a 4-2 triumph in the final. Judge’s meeting with White will be a repeat of the UK Seniors final from a few months ago.
Several centuries were constructed in Clacton; Sembi topping the chart with a 135.
The 2020 ROKiT Phones World Seniors British Open takes place on the 3rd and 4th March.
Filtness Finishes First in Super Seniors
Gary Filtness won his third Super Seniors tour event from five to finish top of this season’s rankings list and earn a place at the ROKiT Phones World Seniors 6-Red Championship in Coleraine in June.
Filtness defeated both Kevin Kelly and Les Dodd 2-0 early on and needed just a frame against Richard Emery in the semi-finals to guarantee his number one spot for the campaign. He duly obliged, registering another 2-0 success before ousting Colin Mitchell 2-1 to complete a hat-trick of trophies this term.
The £20,000 winner-takes-all 6-red event will be held at the Riverside Theatre on the 5th and 6th June.
For the results of last weekend’s events in Clacton, please visit snookerscores.net here.
