Snooker Challenges Raise Funds for Public Health Workers
Over £14,700 has been raised for public health services following a series of snooker-themed challenges broadcast online by World Seniors Snooker over the past three months.
The activities, which have included the ‘Blue Ball Challenge’ and most recently the ‘First Poke’ challenge, have been aimed at snooker players who have had access to a private table during the recent lockdown period.
These have included players not only from the World Seniors Snooker Tour, but also from across the WPBSA Group including World Snooker Tour, World Women’s Snooker, World Disability Billiards and Snooker and players who competed at the World Snooker Federation Open back in January.
Most notably, 18-year-old Austrian junior Florian Nuessle currently stands top of the First Poke leaderboard with a fantastic 137, while former WDBS champion Andy Johnson achieved a perfect ten score on the Blue Ball Challenge.
Having drawn widespread interest, the initial snooker-themed target of £1,470 was quickly exceeded, leading to a revised goal of £14,700 that was achieved last weekend following a donation of £500 by former world champion Shaun Murphy following his own challenge attempt.
The initiatives have been well-supported both within the snooker community and beyond, with several notable players having come together in April to record a charity single, a cover of “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, which received a message of support from original singer/songwriter Sting.
SOS – Silence of Suicide
With the revised target now met, World Seniors Snooker has announced that its challenges will continue with the new goal of raising £14,700 for the SOS Silence of Suicide charity set up by World Women’s Snooker player Yvette Greenway-Mansfield and her husband Michael Mansfield QC.
Founded in 2016, the organisation has worked closely with the WPBSA since 2017 as part of our mental health support system for professional snooker players and the donations received will play a key part in helping to fund a helpline for the charity
New challenges are posted regularly on the official World Seniors Snooker Facebook page.
