Rory On Top in Reading as Crucible Places Decided
Rory McLeod defeated Alfie Burden 4-1 to win the ninth and final Race to the Crucible Series event of the season at The Crucible Club in Reading.
A dramatic weekend in Berkshire saw four places at the Crucible Theatre secured as Aaron Canavan, Andrew Norman, Wayne Townsend and Gerard Greene each qualified for the 2025 JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker Championship in May.
Burden required just two frames in the final to overtake Greene at the last moment but he was denied by McLeod and both will now have to settle for a place in the last chance Play-Off event later this month.
A total of 36 players from five countries contested the competition with the field narrowed down to the final eight heading into the Sunday.
By the end of the opening day, three players had confirmed their place at this year’s JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker Championship.
Canavan and Norman, who won two and three events respectively during the campaign, each reach the quarter-finals and confirmed their qualification by the official two-year ranking list as a result.
Canavan, from Jersey, ends the campaign as world number one and will compete at the Crucible for the fifth time in his career.
It is an event that holds great memories for the 49-year-old, who won the flagship title in Scunthorpe in 2018.
“I think the experience will definitely benefit me, I know what to expect. The first time was so daunting walking out and you look up and see the starry lights and everyone is looking down on you. It can be overwhelming but I’ve experienced it so I know what to expect and I am going to take that with me and use it to my advantage” Canavan said.
Meanwhile, Norman returns to snooker’s most iconic venue for a second consecutive year after just losing out to Jimmy White 12 months ago.
“I feel fantastic. This has been a totally different season – last year I won one qualifying event and then had to wait ten months for the World Championship to come around. This year, I’ve played in nine events – I won event three and then went on a roll of winning three on the bounce and losing in the final of the next” Norman said.
He added: “The biggest thing I can do going back in there is just take a little bit more time on my shots because the excitement and adrenaline does push you round. A rush of blood to the head cost me a fatal black off the spot against Jimmy last year.”
Despite a deciding frame defeat to McLeod in the last 16, Townsend already knew that he had finally fulfilled his dream of qualifying for the Crucible next month via the one-year list.
Townsend is a highlight of the new qualifying format, with his consistency shining through during the campaign.
He said: “It’s the best day of my life, it doesn’t come much better than this. This is what you dream of as a snooker player ever since I started playing. It’s a dream come true. I’ve been so consistent this year so I would’ve been devastated to have just missed out so I’m just happy that I’m over the line – it’s a weight off my shoulders.”
Greene, Burden and Philip Williams all remained in contention for the last spot heading into the semi-final stage on Sunday.
Williams’ hopes were ended by McLeod, who defeated him 4-2, while Burden hung on courtesy of a dramatic final frame victory on the pink against Canavan to reach the final.
The 2023 World Seniors Snooker Championship finalist knew he needed just two frames in the final to leapfrog Greene but he struggled to get going in the best-of-seven frame contest and quickly found him 3-0 behind to McLeod.
Burden kept his hopes alive by taking a nervy fourth frame on the colours but it wasn’t enough as McLeod fired in a break of 85 in the next to secure the title.
TOWNSEND WINS SUPER SENIORS
Karl Townsend defeated Richie Howson 2-0 to win the concluding Super Seniors event of the season in Reading on Sunday.
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 former professional dropped just a single frame all day as he defeated Edward Folly (2-0), Dennis Tristram (2-1) and Anthony Harris (2-0) to reach the title match against Howson.
Howson, who is better known for his darting ability and is a former World Seniors Darts Championship runner-up, impressed on the baize as he overcame Richard Pipe (2-0) and David Brock (2-1) to set up a final meeting with Townsend.
The 58-year-old Townsend proved too strong in the final however as he ran out a 2-0 victor to secure the title.
The ‘Golden Ticket’ Play-Off will take place on 19-20 April at The Crucible Club in Reading with 16 players competing for the final place in the 2025 JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker Championship. The draw for this event will be published in due course.
