World Seniors Snooker Championship 2024: Day One Review

James Wattana was the first player who progressed to the last eight. Credit: Andy Chubb/World Seniors Snooker TourJames Wattana was the first player who progressed to the last eight. Credit: Andy Chubb/World Seniors Snooker Tour
James Wattana was the first player who progressed to the last eight. Credit: Andy Chubb/World Seniors Snooker Tour | ANDY CHUBB
Results and a summary of the opening day’s action from Sheffield

Four players advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2024 World Seniors Snooker Championship following day one at the Crucible Theatre.

Less than 48 hours after Kyren Wilson’s victory in the professional version at the same venue, the premier event on the World Seniors Snooker Tour began as three-time ranking event winner James Wattana ousted Rodney Goggins 3-2 in a close opening tie.

Thai superstar Wattana won the first two frames, but former World Under-21 Champion Goggins from the Republic of Ireland got on the board in the next with the aid of a 68, and forced a decider when he levelled up by taking frame four on the final pink. However, Wattana - a semi-finalist here on his last appearance in 2019 - established an advantage in frame five with a run of 55 before later crossing the line.

The final winner of the afternoon session was Ken Doherty who denied Asia-Pacific Seniors Champion Tyson Crinis.

Australian Crinis threatened an upset as he claimed the first frame on the colours, but Doherty secured parity before depositing frame three on the final black having needed a snooker, and then crafting a match-winning effort of 68 to book his place in the next round.

‘The Darlin’ of Dublin’ is looking to become the first player in snooker history to record world junior, amateur, professional and seniors championship victories.

In the evening session, current world seniors ranking list number one Stuart Watson top scored with a 74 as he dismissed former world number two Tony Knowles 3-0.

Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo was Wednesday’s last victor as he defeated current World Women’s Seniors Champion Tessa Davidson 3-1.

Pan American Seniors Champion Figueiredo - who made the last four the last time he was here in 2021 - won the opening frame, although an impressive Davidson crafted a 47 break as she squared proceedings up with frame two. It was the first time a female player had ever won a frame during the televised stages of the Championship.

Figueiredo, though, collected the next two frames (frame three: 65 break) to set up a potential quarter-final meeting with reigning champion Jimmy White; the player who eliminated him three years ago.

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