ROKiT World Seniors Championship: Q School 2 Preview
Over 90 players are set to compete across seven days of action in Reading next week, all aiming to secure one of four qualifying berths at this year’s ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre in May.
Following the success of the inaugural Seniors Q-School earlier this year at the same Crucible Sports and Social Club venue, this latest edition is the last opportunity for hopefuls to get their names into the main draw and step out onto snooker’s grandest stage in front of the BBC television cameras.
The field consists of former winners of this championship, current main tour professionals, legendary names from the sport and a large contingent of amateur cueists.
During each of the opening six days there will be four round robin groups. The top player from each group will advance to the end of day play-offs where two will progress to ‘Finals Day’ Sunday.
The 12 remaining contestants will then be split into four round robin groups of three (best of seven frames) with the winner of each group taking their place in Sheffield between the 6th-9th May for the final stages, where reigning champion Jimmy White will be defending the title again.
The Draw
The tournament breaks off on Monday and sees 2017 champion Peter Lines in the same group as amateur Wayne Cooper, who qualified for and won a match at last year’s event at the Crucible.
Reigning Super Seniors number one Gary Filtness – the player Cooper defeated in round one last summer – will be trying to top Group C, while the experienced Rory McLeod is in Group B.
Several well-known names enter the fray on Tuesday with former ranking event winner Tony Knowles placed in the same group as Alfie Burden.
Darren Morgan and Nigel Bond – winners of this title in 2011 and 2012 respectively – also begin their campaigns on this day, as does Lee Walker.
Former world seniors number one ranked player Jonathan Bagley is one of Wednesday’s headline draws; Kuldesh Johal and Stuart Watson – a Crucible qualifier for this event in 2019 – are highlights on Thursday.
Northern Irish duo Gerard Greene and 2018 runner-up Patrick Wallace will face each other in the same group on Friday. Elsewhere, 1977 UK Championship winner Patsy Fagan and Rhydian Richards – another qualifier from two years ago – will also be on the baize.
The last day of first stage play on Saturday will feature Jersey’s Aaron Canavan, winner of this title three years ago in Scunthorpe.
For further information, scores and results throughout the week in Berkshire, please visit WPBSA SnookerScores.
The final day’s action will be livestreamed on the World Seniors Snooker Facebook page.
