World Seniors Snooker Championship 2024 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in World Seniors Championship 10 May 2024

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World Seniors Championship Snooker 2024 | Draw, Live Scores and Schedule of Play

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Igor Figueiredo claims historic World Seniors Championship title

Jimmy White in action (Photo credit: Will Matthews/PA/Alamy)

Jimmy White resumes his World Seniors Championship title defence against Igor Figueiredo in the quarter-finals on Friday.

The reigning champion is aiming to land a record-extending fifth crown at the Crucible, where Ken Doherty, Tony Drago, James Wattana and Dechawat Poomjaeng are also in action on day three.

White’s defence almost fell at the first hurdle as he trailed 2-0 against debutant Andrew Norman in the opening round.

However, the 2022 English Seniors champion squandered a great opportunity to wrap up a 3-0 victory when he missed a black off its spot.

The Whirlwind slowly recovered and eventually prevailed on the final pink in a nervy deciding frame.

White knows he cannot afford to be slow out of the blocks against Figueiredo – back in Sheffield for the first time since reaching the 2021 semi-finals.

The Brazilian marked his return with a 3-1 win over two-time World Women’s Seniors champion Tessa Davidson on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Doherty locks horns with Poomjaeng in what should be an enjoyable battle between two of snooker’s great entertainers.

The 1997 Crucible king – and runner-up in this event four years ago – also recovered from a slow start against Australian debutant Tyson Crinis in round one. After losing the opening frame, he snatched the third on the black having needed a snooker, before wrapping up a 3-1 success with a break of 68.

Poomjaeng was also a 3-1 winner, as the popular Thai marked his World Seniors bow by defeating former champion Darren Morgan, who was severely hampered by a back injury.

His compatriot Wattana hit a break of 55 in his decider against Rodney Goggins, who recovered from 2-0 down to take their first-round contest the distance.

The former world number three goes up against Barry Pinches after the Norfolk cueist had runs of 54 and 50 on the way to a 3-1 win over 1986 World champion Joe Johnson.

Tony Drago was also successful by that scoreline against Michael Judge. Next up for the Tornado is a showdown with World Seniors number one Stuart Watson, after the late call-up hit a top break of 82 in his commanding 3-0 victory over Tony Knowles.

Play gets under way at 12pm BST on Friday with all matches contested over the best of five frames at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.