World Seniors Snooker Championship 2024 | Day One Preview and Order of Play
Doherty is eyeing his first World Seniors crown (Li Ran/Xinhua/Alamy Live News)
Ken Doherty headlines the opening day of the 2024 World Seniors Snooker Championship when he faces Tyson Crinis at the Crucible Theatre.
Less than 36 hours after Kyren Wilson claimed the professional crown, the quest to don the World Seniors crown begins for 16 players in Sheffield.
Doherty – king of the Crucible in 1997 – will be among the favourites to go all the way, and become the first player to win the World Championship at under-21, amateur, professional and senior levels.
The popular Irishman came close to achieving the feat four years ago, when he suffered an agonising 5-4 defeat from 4-0 up against Jimmy White in the final.
First up for him is a showdown with Australian Crinis, who makes his debut at the event after winning the Asia-Pacific Seniors Championship.
Elsewhere, former world number three James Wattana makes his first appearance at the World Seniors Championship since reaching the 2019 semi-finals.
The Thai faces Irishman – and number two on the World Seniors Snooker rankings – Rodney Goggins, who is back for the first time since 2020 after winning the qualifying event in Jersey.
Former world number two Tony Knowles is targeting his first victory in the event since 2012 when he takes on Stuart Watson – a late call-up after Mohamed Khairy’s withdrawal.
The two-time ranking event winner faces a tricky test in the 2019 quarter-finalist – and number one in the World Seniors Snooker rankings.
Two-time World Women’s Seniors champion Tessa Davidson makes her Crucible bow when she locks horns with Igor Figueiredo.
The Brazilian won the Pan-American Seniors Championship to secure his first appearance in the event since reaching the 2021 semi-finals.
Play gets under way at 12pm BST on Wednesday with all matches contested over the best of five frames at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
World Seniors Championship 2024 Day One Schedule
Wednesday May 8
Round One
12pm
James Wattana v Rodney Goggins
Ken Doherty v Tyson Crinis
7pm
Tony Knowles v Stuart Watson
Igor Figueredo v Tessa Davidson