Ronnie O’Sullivan made his debut at a World Seniors Snooker Championship on Friday – securing a brace of victories within the 2026 occasion on the Crucible Theatre.
Lower than two weeks after exiting the primary tour’s World Snooker Championship, O’Sullivan returned to Sheffield for his first-ever look at a seniors match.
The 50 year-old confronted Ken Doherty within the final 16, an opponent he first encountered competitively all the best way again in 1992.
O’Sullivan appeared rusty after claims that he hadn’t practiced since dropping to John Higgins in a dramatic round-of-16 World Championship tie on the finish of April.
However regardless of fighting the situations of the desk, the Rocket nonetheless efficiently launched his title bid with a 4-1 defeat of the Irishman.
Within the quarter-finals, O’Sullivan then fought his manner again from behind to edge Peter Traces with a 4-2 scoreline.
Traces established a 2-1 benefit and appeared on track to trigger an upset, however breaks of 109 and 65 helped O’Sullivan to show the match again in his favour.
O’Sullivan’s triumphs got here both aspect of being formally awarded with 5 new Guinness World Data accolades – bringing his complete to 19.
Among the many information formally ratified was his magnificent 153 complete clearance with the usage of a free ball, which he compiled on the World Open in March.
The seven-time world champion will look so as to add one other snooker title to his big assortment this weekend with two extra wins on the baize separating him from a maiden world seniors crown.
Subsequent up within the semi-finals on Saturday might be Robert Milkins, who ousted 2024 champion Igor Figueiredo within the quarter-finals.
Milkins, who pipped Jimmy White in a black-ball shoot out within the earlier spherical, beat the Brazilian 4-1 to succeed in the final 4.
The semi-final on the opposite aspect of the draw might be one other all-English affair, with Joe Perry clashing with Craig Steadman.
Perry already boasts seniors silverware from this season following his success on the British Seniors Open in December.
The Gentleman edged Aaron Canavan within the final 16 earlier than defeating fellow former rating occasion winner Matthew Stevens 4-1 within the final eight.
Steadman, in the meantime, secured back-to-back deciding-frame victories within the competitors after pipping each Nigel Bond and Ali Carter with re-spotted blacks.
In a twist to the foundations for this occasion, the result of all deciding frames this 12 months might be decided by means of a re-spotted black moderately than a conventional body.
Steadman’s win over Bond wasn’t with out controversy, although, with the latter dropping because of being timed out amid the 30-second shot clock.
Each semi-finals will happen on Saturday over the best-of-13 frames, with stay protection persevering with throughout the 5 platform within the UK, and on Pluto TV in chosen areas.
The 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship carries a prime prize of £30,000.
Click on right here: full draw and schedule
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