World Seniors Snooker Championship 2023 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in World Seniors Championship 5 May 2023

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White headlines day one in Riyadh (Photo credit: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo)

Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry headline Friday’s action as the first round draws to a close at the World Seniors Snooker Championship.

White plays Philip Williams as Hendry takes on Darren Morgan at The Crucible, where just eight players will remain at the conclusion of day three.

The most successful player on the tour, three-time World Seniors champion White has reached each of the last four finals at this event, winning 14 of his 16 matches during that span.

Although, the Whirlwind is aiming to go the extra step and make it third time lucky this year, having been runner-up to David Lilley and Lee Walker in the last two editions – surrendering a 4-2 lead in the latter.

Nevertheless, he arrives fresh from his best season on the professional tour of recent years, in which he reached the German Masters last 16 and won four matches to qualify for the UK Championship main draw.

Standing in his way in round one is Williams, who was the last player to qualify after winning the Golden Ticket event – thus ensuring his third successive Crucible appearance.

Meanwhile, seven-time World professional champion Hendry is looking to land his first World Seniors title.

A two-time semi-finalist in 2013 and 2020, the Scotsman was whitewashed 3-0 by eventual champion Walker at this stage of last year’s event, and faces another tough test in the form of a Welshman 12 months on.

Indeed, former world number eight Morgan, who qualified after winning the European Seniors title, lifted this trophy on his maiden appearance in 2011, and was a beaten finalist in 2016 and 2019.

Peter Lines is another former champion in action day three. The 2017 winner – and reigning UK Seniors champion – takes on former English amateur champion Ben Hancorn, who is set for his Crucible debut.

Elsewhere, 1986 World professional champion – and 2019 Seniors Masters winner – Joe Johnson faces another player making his bow in Sheffield in Australia’s Adrian Ridley, who qualified after dropping just two frames in seven matches on his way to winning the Asia-Pacific Seniors Championship in March.

Play gets underway at 12pm BST on Friday with all first-round matches contested over the best of five frames at The Crucible.

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