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{{short description|2021 edition of the World Seniors snooker championship}}
The '''2020 World Seniors Championship''' is an upcoming senior [[snooker]] tournament that will place from 6 to 9 May 2021 at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in [[Sheffield]], England.<ref>http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=869</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox individual snooker tournament
|tournament_name=2021 [[World Seniors Championship]]
|logo=
|dates={{Start and end dates|2021|05|6|2021|05|9|df=y}}
|venue= [[Crucible Theatre]]
|location= [[Sheffield]]
|country= [[England]]
|organisation=World Seniors Snooker
|format=Seniors event
|Total prize fund=
|winners_share=£15,000
|highest_break= {{flagathlete|[[Darren Morgan]]|WAL}} (134)
|winner= {{flagathlete|[[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]]|ENG}}
|runner_up= {{flagathlete|[[Jimmy White]]|ENG}}
|score= 5–3
|previous=[[2020 World Seniors Championship|2020]]
|next=[[2022 World Seniors Championship|2022]]
}}

The '''2021 World Seniors Championship''' (officially the '''2021 ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship''') was an invitational senior [[snooker]] tournament that took place from 6 to 9 May 2021 at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in [[Sheffield]], England, the third consecutive year that the tournament was held at the venue. Open to all players over 40 who were ranked outside the top 64 in the [[snooker world rankings]], the event was the 12th edition of the [[World Seniors Championship]], first held in [[1991 World Seniors Championship|1991]]. Organised by the [[World Seniors Tour]], the event was broadcast domestically by the [[BBC]] and internationally by other broadcasters.

The main stage featured 16 competitors. Former world champions [[Ken Doherty]], [[Stephen Hendry]], [[John Parrott]], [[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]] and [[Dennis Taylor]] were among the invited players. [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] travel restrictions meant that three of the players originally invited—[[1980 World Snooker Championship|1980]] world champion [[Cliff Thorburn]], [[Tony Drago]] and [[Bob Chaperon]]—were unable to take up their places. [[1977 UK Championship|1977]] UK champion [[Patsy Fagan]], former world number two [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]] and WSF Seniors champion [[Igor Figueiredo]] were chosen to replace them.

[[Jimmy White]] was the defending champion, having won the [[2020 World Seniors Championship|2020 edition]] with a 5–4 victory against [[Ken Doherty]] in the final. White reached the final for the third year in a row, but lost 5–3 to [[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]], who won the title for the first time and thus qualified for the [[2021 Champion of Champions]].

== Overview ==
[[File:Sheffield Crucible theatre.png|thumb|alt=A building with the word "Crucible" emblazoned on white tiles above a raised windowed area.|The main stage of the event was held at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in [[Sheffield]] for a third consecutive year.]]

The 2021 World Seniors Championship was a [[snooker]] tournament that took place from 6 to 9 May 2021 at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in [[Sheffield]], England. The 12th edition of the [[World Seniors Championship]], first contested in [[1991 World Seniors Championship|1991]],<ref name="CTSA">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Masters/Seniors Snooker (Over 40s)|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/seniors.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313150047/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/seniors.html|archive-date=13 March 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref> it was held at the Crucible for the third consecutive year and sponsored for the third time by ROKiT.<ref name="16players">{{Cite web |title=The ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Tour is today pleased to announce the 16 players who will compete in their World Championship from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. |author=World Seniors Snooker |website=[[Facebook]] |date=16 April 2021 |access-date=3 May 2021 |url=https://www.facebook.com/WorldSeniorsSnooker/posts/1162115830878123 |quote= |archive-date=2 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202221708/https://www.facebook.com/WorldSeniorsSnooker/posts/1162115830878123 |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[World Seniors Tour]] event, the tournament was open to all players over 40 who were ranked outside the top 64 in the [[snooker world rankings]]. The event was broadcast domestically on the [[BBC]], in China by [[Zhibo TV]], [[Superstar Online]], [[Migu]] and [[Huya Live|Huya]] in China and in all other territories by [[Matchroom Sport]].<ref name="16players"/>

=== Participants ===
The main stage of the event featured sixteen competitors. Having defeated [[Ken Doherty]] in the [[2020 World Seniors Championship|2020 edition]], [[Jimmy White]] was the defending champion.<ref name="16players"/> Alongside him, five former world champions—Doherty, [[Stephen Hendry]], [[John Parrott]], [[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]] and [[Dennis Taylor]]—were invited to take part in the tournament.<ref name="16players"/> A few of the invited players had to be replaced due to the travel restricitions imposed because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="16players"/> [[1980 World Snooker Championship|1980]] world champion [[Cliff Thorburn]] was replaced by [[Patsy Fagan]], who had won the [[1977 UK Championship (snooker)|1977 UK Championship]]; [[Tony Drago]], the [[1997 International Open]] runner-up, was replaced by [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]], and [[Igor Figueiredo]] took [[Bob Chaperon]]'s place.<ref name="16players"/> [[Lee Walker (snooker player)|Lee Walker]] was able to compete, having just lost his place in the [[World Snooker Tour|professional tour]].<ref name="SSjune21">{{cite magazine|title=Lilley foils White's Seniors hat-trick|magazine=[[Snooker Scene]]|date=June 2021|page=32}}</ref> The field was completed by [[Michael Judge]], [[Barry Pinches]], [[David Lilley]], [[Darren Morgan]], [[Philip Williams (snooker player)|Philip Williams]] and [[Patrick Wallace]].<ref name="16players"/> The eight [[seed (sports)|seeds]] were drawn randomly against the other eight players during a draw that took place during the [[2021 World Snooker Championship|2021 World Championship]].<ref name="16players"/>

=== Prize fund ===
The winner of the event received £15,000.<ref name="SSjune21"/> The breakdown of prize money is shown below:<ref name="SSjune21"/>

{{div col}}
* Winner: £15,000
* Runner-up: £7,000
* Semi-finalists: £3,000
* Quarter-finalists: £2,000
* Highest break: £1,500
{{div col end}}

== Summary ==
[[File:Dennis Taylor and his glasses (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Snooker player Dennis Taylor in 2009|[[1985 World Snooker Championship|1985]] world champion [[Dennis Taylor]] (pictured in 2009) was whitewashed in his first-round match against [[Barry Pinches]] and announced his retirement after a 49-year-long career.<ref name="Taylorretirement"/>]]

The first round of the event was played as best-of-5-{{cuegloss|frame}} matches on 6 and 7 May.<ref name="snookerorg"/> White, two-time champion, kicked-off his defence of the title with a [[whitewash (sport)|whitewash]] over Knowles.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref name="SSjune21"/> There were four further whitewashes at this stage: Figueiredo defeated [[1991 World Snooker Championship|1991]] world champion Parrott;<ref name="SSjune21"/> seven-time world champion Hendry won over Fagan;<ref name="SSjune21"/> [[1997 World Snooker Championship|1997]] world champion Doherty, who produced a century break of 102 in the first frame,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/cb8096d9-bf3e-40a4-a58b-ce53cc6783db/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Last 16 - Ken Doherty vs Joe Johnson|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref> beat Johnson, and Pinches defeated Taylor in what would turn out to be the last competitive match of the latter's 49-year-long career.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref name="Taylorretirement">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/world-seniors-championship/2021/world-seniors-snooker-championship-dennis-taylor-announces-retirement-after-49-year-playing-career_sto8308167/story.shtml|title=World Seniors Snooker Championship – Dennis Taylor announces retirement after 49-year playing career|date=8 May 2021|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|first=Desmond|last=Kane|access-date=2024-05-08}}</ref><ref name="SSjune21"/> "That match against Barry was my last competitive match ever. And what a way to finish here in the Crucible Theatre", said Taylor, referring to the venue in which he had become world champion in [[1985 World Snooker Championship|1985]].<ref name="Taylorretirement"/><ref name="SSjune21"/> Morgan, who had already won the event in [[2011 World Seniors Championship|2011]], compiled a century of 112 in a 3{{nbnd}}2 victory over Walker.<ref name="snookerorg"/> Wallace also took the first-round match against Judge in the {{cuegloss|deciding frame}}.<ref name="snookerorg"/> Lilley, competing in his first World Seniors Championship, played Williams and prevailed with a 3{{nbnd}}1 result.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref name="SSjune21"/>

The quarter-finals were played as best-of-7-frame matches on 8 May.<ref name="snookerorg"/> In a repeat of one of the [[1994 World Snooker Championship]] semi-finals, White faced Morgan, who made a 134, his second century of the event and what would remain as the highest break of the tournament.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref name="EurosportWhiteHendry">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/world-seniors-championship/2021/world-seniors-snooker-2021-jimmy-white-continues-title-defence-but-stephen-hendry-crashes-out_sto8310120/story.shtml|title=World Seniors Snooker Championship 2021 – Jimmy White continues title defence but Stephen Hendry crashes out|date=9 May 2021|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|access-date=2024-05-08|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001040914/https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/world-seniors-championship/2021/world-seniors-snooker-2021-jimmy-white-continues-title-defence-but-stephen-hendry-crashes-out_sto8310120/story.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SSjune21"/> However, White, despite not managing to compile any breaks of more than 46, won 4{{nbnd}}1.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/6617ecd3-5927-4e5b-9d8c-43debfe93632/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Jimmy White vs Darren Morgan|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508084913/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/6617ecd3-5927-4e5b-9d8c-43debfe93632/sheet|url-status=live}}</ref> Hendry made a 76 break in the first frame of his match against Figueiredo, who then replied taking three on the trot, featuring a century of 100 and a further break of 61.<ref name="sshendryfigueiredo">{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/02201229-bc00-41c0-beec-232939442085/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Stephen Hendry vs Igor Figueiredo|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="EurosportWhiteHendry"/><ref name="SSjune21"/> The fifth frame saw half-centuries by both players, but it was Figueiredo who potted the final {{cuegloss|black ball}} and prevailed with a 72{{nbnd}}62 result and advanced into the semi-finals.<ref name="sshendryfigueiredo"/><ref name="EurosportWhiteHendry"/><ref name="SSjune21"/> Pinches and Wallace shared the first four frames of their encounter, and they produced three half-centuries along the way.<ref name="sspincheswallace">{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/4e16a6d1-00bd-42ad-8597-d6cf5dabcf77/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Barry Pinches vs Patrick Wallace|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508094309/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/4e16a6d1-00bd-42ad-8597-d6cf5dabcf77/sheet|url-status=live}}</ref> Wallace won the next two frames and pinched victory, although Pinches scored in both of them.<ref name="sspincheswallace"/> Lilley had 2{{nbnd}}0 and 3{{nbnd}}1 leads over Doherty, but the latter—deemed a favourite to win the trophy before the tournament started—managed to take the match to a decider, which Lilley won with a 69 break.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/2030900b-7ecb-4abf-8a92-6def45a6f83e/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Ken Doherty vs David Lilley|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508094908/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/2030900b-7ecb-4abf-8a92-6def45a6f83e/sheet|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/10/david-lilley-and-jimmy-white-react-to-memorable-world-seniors-snooker-championship-final-14550166/|title=David Lilley reacts to beating his 'hero' Jimmy White in World Seniors Snooker Championship final|newspaper=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|date=10 May 2021|first=Phil|last=Haigh|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508095528/https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/10/david-lilley-and-jimmy-white-react-to-memorable-world-seniors-snooker-championship-final-14550166/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SSjune21"/>

[[File:Jimmy White at Snooker German Masters (Martin Rulsch) 2014-01-29 01.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Snooker player Jimmy White in 2014|[[Jimmy White]] (pictured in 2014), champion both in [[2019 World Seniors Championship|2019]] and [[2020 World Seniors Championship|2020]], reached his third consecutive final, but was defeated by [[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]], who claimed his first title.<ref name="eurosportfinal"/>]]

The semi-finals were played as best-of-7-frame matches on 9 May.<ref name="snookerorg"/> White produced a break of 60 in the first frame of his semi-final against Figueiredo and then doubled his lead.<ref name="WhiteFigueiredo">{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/cb8096d9-bf3e-40a4-a58b-ce53cc6783db/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Semi-final - Jimmy White vs Igor Figueiredo|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508141731/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/cb8096d9-bf3e-40a4-a58b-ce53cc6783db/sheet|url-status=live}}</ref> Figueiredo halved the deficit in the third frame, but White took the following two to progress to the final<ref name="WhiteFigueiredo"/> for the third time in a row.<ref name="eurosportfinal"/> In the other match, Wallace secured the first frame but then saw Lilley compile breaks of 65, 56, 89 and 69 to defeat him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/6d025bc1-a04b-4d09-a9cd-5417266ada0b/sheet|title=Match Sheet: Semi-final - David Lilley vs Patrick Wallace|website=snookerscores.net|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=8 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508151420/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/6d025bc1-a04b-4d09-a9cd-5417266ada0b/sheet|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SSjune21"/>

The final, officiated by referee [[Leo Scullion]], was played between White and Lilley on 9 May as the best-of-9 frames.<ref name="snookerorg">{{cite web|title=ROKiT World Seniors Championship (2021)|url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=869|website=snooker.org|access-date=8 May 2024|archive-date=28 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428032844/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=869|url-status=live}}</ref> It was a third consecutive final for White, who had won the event both in [[2019 World Seniors Championship|2019]] and [[2020 World Seniors Championship|2020]].<ref name="eurosportfinal"/> Lilley took an early lead of 3{{nbnd}}0, but White replied with half-centuries of 85, 63 and 56 to level the match.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref name="eurosportfinal"/> Lilley won the next two frames, aided by a break of 69 in the final one, to claim his first seniors title.<ref name="snookerorg"/><ref name="eurosportfinal"/> "I'm a bit speechless, I didn't think I'd get this emotional", said Lilley on receiving the trophy.<ref name="eurosportfinal">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/world-seniors-championship/2021/world-seniors-snooker-championship-2021-david-lilley-denies-jimmy-white-hat-trick-of-titles_sto8311808/story.shtml|title=World Seniors Snooker Championship 2021 – David Lilley denies Jimmy White hat-trick of titles|date=10 May 2021|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|access-date=2024-05-08|archive-date=1 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001073047/https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/world-seniors-championship/2021/world-seniors-snooker-championship-2021-david-lilley-denies-jimmy-white-hat-trick-of-titles_sto8311808/story.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Victory enabled him to take part in the [[2021 Champion of Champions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/champion-of-champions/2021-2022/champion-of-champions-2021-below-par-judd-trump-wins-group-1-opener-against-world-seniors-champion-d_sto8629401/story.shtml|title=Champion of Champions 2021 – Below-par Judd Trump wins Group 1 opener against World Seniors champion David Lilley|date=15 November 2021|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|access-date=2024-05-08|archive-date=24 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124014914/https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/champion-of-champions/2021-2022/champion-of-champions-2021-below-par-judd-trump-wins-group-1-opener-against-world-seniors-champion-d_sto8629401/story.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SSjune21"/>

== Main draw ==
The results for the main draw are shown below. Numbers given in brackets are the players' seedings. Match winners are denoted in bold.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=The last 16 line-up for the 2021 ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship is now known... |author=World Seniors Snooker |website=[[Facebook]] |date=23 April 2021 |access-date=3 May 2021 |url=https://www.facebook.com/WorldSeniorsSnooker/posts/1166707597085613 |quote= |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=}}</ref>
{{16TeamBracket
| RD1 = '''Last 16''' <br />Best of 5 frames
| RD2 = '''Quarter–finals''' <br />Best of 7 frames
| RD3 = '''Semi–finals''' <br />Best of 7 frames
| RD4 = '''Final''' <br />Best of 9 frames
| RD1-seed01 = 1
| RD1-team01 = {{flagathlete|'''[[Jimmy White]]'''|ENG}}
| RD1-score01 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed02 =
| RD1-team02 = {{flagathlete|[[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]]|ENG}}
| RD1-score02 = 0
| RD1-seed03 = 8
| RD1-team03 = {{flagathlete|[[Lee Walker]]|WAL}}
| RD1-score03 = 2
| RD1-seed04 =
| RD1-team04 = {{flagathlete|'''[[Darren Morgan]]'''|WAL}}
| RD1-score04 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed05 = 5
| RD1-team05 = {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|'''[[Igor Figueiredo]]'''|BRA}}}}
| RD1-score05 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed06 =
| RD1-team06 = {{flagathlete|[[John Parrott]]|ENG}}
| RD1-score06 = 0
| RD1-seed07 = 4
| RD1-team07 = {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|'''[[Stephen Hendry]]'''|SCO}}}}
| RD1-score07 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed08 =
| RD1-team08 = {{flagathlete|[[Patsy Fagan]]|IRL}}
| RD1-score08 = 0
| RD1-seed09 = 3
| RD1-team09 = {{flagathlete|[[Michael Judge]]|IRL}}
| RD1-score09 = 2
| RD1-seed10 =
| RD1-team10 = {{flagathlete|'''[[Patrick Wallace]]'''|NIR}}
| RD1-score10 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed11 = 6
| RD1-team11 = {{flagathlete|'''[[Barry Pinches]]'''|ENG}}
| RD1-score11 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed12 =
| RD1-team12 = {{flagathlete|[[Dennis Taylor]]|NIR}}
| RD1-score12 = 0
| RD1-seed13 = 7
| RD1-team13 = {{flagathlete|'''[[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]]'''|ENG}}
| RD1-score13 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed14 =
| RD1-team14 = {{flagathlete|[[Philip Williams (snooker player)|Philip Williams]]|WAL}}
| RD1-score14 = 1
| RD1-seed15 = 2
| RD1-team15 = {{flagathlete|'''[[Ken Doherty]]'''|IRL}}
| RD1-score15 = '''3'''
| RD1-seed16 =
| RD1-team16 = {{flagathlete|[[Joe Johnson (snooker player)|Joe Johnson]]|ENG}}
| RD1-score16 = 0
| RD2-seed01 = 1
| RD2-team01 = {{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Jimmy White]]'''
| RD2-score01 = '''4'''
| RD2-seed02 = &nbsp;
| RD2-team02 = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Darren Morgan]]}}
| RD2-score02 = 1
| RD2-seed03 = 5
| RD2-team03 = {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Igor Figueiredo]]'''
| RD2-score03 = '''4'''
| RD2-seed04 = 4
| RD2-team04 = {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stephen Hendry]]
| RD2-score04 = 1
| RD2-seed05 = &nbsp;
| RD2-team05 = {{flagicon|NIR}} '''[[Patrick Wallace]]'''
| RD2-score05 = '''4'''
| RD2-seed06 = 6
| RD2-team06 = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Pinches]]
| RD2-score06 = 2
| RD2-seed07 = 7
| RD2-team07 = {{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]]'''
| RD2-score07 = '''4'''
| RD2-seed08 = 2
| RD2-team08 ={{flagicon|IRL}} [[Ken Doherty]]
| RD2-score08 = 3
| RD3-seed01 = 1
| RD3-team01 = {{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Jimmy White]]'''
| RD3-score01 = '''4'''
| RD3-seed02 = 5
| RD3-team02 = {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Igor Figueiredo]]
| RD3-score02 = 1
| RD3-seed03 = &nbsp;
| RD3-team03 = {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Patrick Wallace]]
| RD3-score03 = 1
| RD3-seed04 = 7
| RD3-team04 = {{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]]'''
| RD3-score04 = '''4'''
| RD4-seed01 = 1
| RD4-team01 = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy White]]
| RD4-score01 = 3
| RD4-seed02 = 7
| RD4-team02 = {{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]]'''
| RD4-score02 = '''5'''
}}

===Final===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#ffd700" | '''Final:''' Best of 9 frames. Referee: [[Leo Scullion]]<br />[[Crucible Theatre]], 9 May 2021
|-
| width="230" align="right" | [[Jimmy White]] (1)<br />{{ENG}}
| width="100" align="center" | 3–'''5'''
| width="230" align="left" | '''[[David Lilley (snooker player)|David Lilley]] (7)'''<br />{{ENG}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" style="font-size: 100%" | 16–'''76''' ('''74'''), 44–'''52''', 18–'''69''', '''85'''–0 ('''85'''), '''113'''–7 ('''63'''), '''110'''–32 ('''56'''), 49–'''63''', 20–'''77''' ('''69''')
|-
| align="right" | '''85'''
| align="center" | Highest break
| 74
|-
| align="right" | ''0''
| align="center" | Century breaks
| ''0''
|-
| align="right" | '''3'''
| align="center" | 50+ breaks
| 2
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | 2021 [[World Seniors Championship|World Seniors Champion]] <br />{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Lilley (snooker player)|'''David Lilley''']]
|}

==Century breaks==
There were four [[century break]]s in the main stage of the World Seniors Championship. The highest was a 134 made by Morgan.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Association|first=World Professional Billiards and Snooker|title=WPBSA SnookerScores - ROKiT World Seniors Championship - 50+ Breaks|url=https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/rokit-world-seniors-championship-1/breaks|access-date=2021-05-09|website=snookerscores.net|language=en|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508171411/https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/rokit-world-seniors-championship-1/breaks|url-status=live}}</ref>

*134, 112 {{ndash}} [[Darren Morgan]]
*102 {{ndash}} [[Ken Doherty]]
*100 {{ndash}} [[Igor Figueiredo]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{World Seniors Championship}}
{{2020–21 snooker season}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Seniors Championship, 2021}}
[[Category:World Seniors Championship|2021]]
[[Category:World Seniors Tour]]
[[Category:2021 in snooker]]
[[Category:2021 in English sport]]
[[Category:May 2021 sports events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Sheffield]]

Latest revision as of 16:39, 15 May 2024

2021 World Seniors Championship
Tournament information
Dates6–9 May 2021 (2021-05-06 – 2021-05-09)
VenueCrucible Theatre
CitySheffield
CountryEngland
OrganisationWorld Seniors Snooker
FormatSeniors event
Winner's share£15,000
Highest break Darren Morgan (WAL) (134)
Final
Champion David Lilley (ENG)
Runner-up Jimmy White (ENG)
Score5–3
2020
2022

The 2021 World Seniors Championship (officially the 2021 ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship) was an invitational senior snooker tournament that took place from 6 to 9 May 2021 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, the third consecutive year that the tournament was held at the venue. Open to all players over 40 who were ranked outside the top 64 in the snooker world rankings, the event was the 12th edition of the World Seniors Championship, first held in 1991. Organised by the World Seniors Tour, the event was broadcast domestically by the BBC and internationally by other broadcasters.

The main stage featured 16 competitors. Former world champions Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott, Joe Johnson and Dennis Taylor were among the invited players. COVID-19 travel restrictions meant that three of the players originally invited—1980 world champion Cliff Thorburn, Tony Drago and Bob Chaperon—were unable to take up their places. 1977 UK champion Patsy Fagan, former world number two Tony Knowles and WSF Seniors champion Igor Figueiredo were chosen to replace them.

Jimmy White was the defending champion, having won the 2020 edition with a 5–4 victory against Ken Doherty in the final. White reached the final for the third year in a row, but lost 5–3 to David Lilley, who won the title for the first time and thus qualified for the 2021 Champion of Champions.

Overview

[edit]
A building with the word "Crucible" emblazoned on white tiles above a raised windowed area.
The main stage of the event was held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for a third consecutive year.

The 2021 World Seniors Championship was a snooker tournament that took place from 6 to 9 May 2021 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The 12th edition of the World Seniors Championship, first contested in 1991,[1] it was held at the Crucible for the third consecutive year and sponsored for the third time by ROKiT.[2] A World Seniors Tour event, the tournament was open to all players over 40 who were ranked outside the top 64 in the snooker world rankings. The event was broadcast domestically on the BBC, in China by Zhibo TV, Superstar Online, Migu and Huya in China and in all other territories by Matchroom Sport.[2]

Participants

[edit]

The main stage of the event featured sixteen competitors. Having defeated Ken Doherty in the 2020 edition, Jimmy White was the defending champion.[2] Alongside him, five former world champions—Doherty, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott, Joe Johnson and Dennis Taylor—were invited to take part in the tournament.[2] A few of the invited players had to be replaced due to the travel restricitions imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] 1980 world champion Cliff Thorburn was replaced by Patsy Fagan, who had won the 1977 UK Championship; Tony Drago, the 1997 International Open runner-up, was replaced by Tony Knowles, and Igor Figueiredo took Bob Chaperon's place.[2] Lee Walker was able to compete, having just lost his place in the professional tour.[3] The field was completed by Michael Judge, Barry Pinches, David Lilley, Darren Morgan, Philip Williams and Patrick Wallace.[2] The eight seeds were drawn randomly against the other eight players during a draw that took place during the 2021 World Championship.[2]

Prize fund

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The winner of the event received £15,000.[3] The breakdown of prize money is shown below:[3]

  • Winner: £15,000
  • Runner-up: £7,000
  • Semi-finalists: £3,000
  • Quarter-finalists: £2,000
  • Highest break: £1,500

Summary

[edit]
Snooker player Dennis Taylor in 2009
1985 world champion Dennis Taylor (pictured in 2009) was whitewashed in his first-round match against Barry Pinches and announced his retirement after a 49-year-long career.[4]

The first round of the event was played as best-of-5-frame matches on 6 and 7 May.[5] White, two-time champion, kicked-off his defence of the title with a whitewash over Knowles.[5][3] There were four further whitewashes at this stage: Figueiredo defeated 1991 world champion Parrott;[3] seven-time world champion Hendry won over Fagan;[3] 1997 world champion Doherty, who produced a century break of 102 in the first frame,[6] beat Johnson, and Pinches defeated Taylor in what would turn out to be the last competitive match of the latter's 49-year-long career.[5][4][3] "That match against Barry was my last competitive match ever. And what a way to finish here in the Crucible Theatre", said Taylor, referring to the venue in which he had become world champion in 1985.[4][3] Morgan, who had already won the event in 2011, compiled a century of 112 in a 3‍–‍2 victory over Walker.[5] Wallace also took the first-round match against Judge in the deciding frame.[5] Lilley, competing in his first World Seniors Championship, played Williams and prevailed with a 3‍–‍1 result.[5][3]

The quarter-finals were played as best-of-7-frame matches on 8 May.[5] In a repeat of one of the 1994 World Snooker Championship semi-finals, White faced Morgan, who made a 134, his second century of the event and what would remain as the highest break of the tournament.[5][7][3] However, White, despite not managing to compile any breaks of more than 46, won 4‍–‍1.[5][8] Hendry made a 76 break in the first frame of his match against Figueiredo, who then replied taking three on the trot, featuring a century of 100 and a further break of 61.[9][7][3] The fifth frame saw half-centuries by both players, but it was Figueiredo who potted the final black ball and prevailed with a 72‍–‍62 result and advanced into the semi-finals.[9][7][3] Pinches and Wallace shared the first four frames of their encounter, and they produced three half-centuries along the way.[10] Wallace won the next two frames and pinched victory, although Pinches scored in both of them.[10] Lilley had 2‍–‍0 and 3‍–‍1 leads over Doherty, but the latter—deemed a favourite to win the trophy before the tournament started—managed to take the match to a decider, which Lilley won with a 69 break.[11][12][3]

Snooker player Jimmy White in 2014
Jimmy White (pictured in 2014), champion both in 2019 and 2020, reached his third consecutive final, but was defeated by David Lilley, who claimed his first title.[13]

The semi-finals were played as best-of-7-frame matches on 9 May.[5] White produced a break of 60 in the first frame of his semi-final against Figueiredo and then doubled his lead.[14] Figueiredo halved the deficit in the third frame, but White took the following two to progress to the final[14] for the third time in a row.[13] In the other match, Wallace secured the first frame but then saw Lilley compile breaks of 65, 56, 89 and 69 to defeat him.[15][3]

The final, officiated by referee Leo Scullion, was played between White and Lilley on 9 May as the best-of-9 frames.[5] It was a third consecutive final for White, who had won the event both in 2019 and 2020.[13] Lilley took an early lead of 3‍–‍0, but White replied with half-centuries of 85, 63 and 56 to level the match.[5][13] Lilley won the next two frames, aided by a break of 69 in the final one, to claim his first seniors title.[5][13] "I'm a bit speechless, I didn't think I'd get this emotional", said Lilley on receiving the trophy.[13] Victory enabled him to take part in the 2021 Champion of Champions.[16][3]

Main draw

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The results for the main draw are shown below. Numbers given in brackets are the players' seedings. Match winners are denoted in bold. [17]

Last 16
Best of 5 frames
Quarter–finals
Best of 7 frames
Semi–finals
Best of 7 frames
Final
Best of 9 frames
            
1  Jimmy White (ENG) 3
 Tony Knowles (ENG) 0
1 England Jimmy White 4
  Wales Darren Morgan 1
8  Lee Walker (WAL) 2
 Darren Morgan (WAL) 3
1 England Jimmy White 4
5 Brazil Igor Figueiredo 1
5  Igor Figueiredo (BRA) 3
 John Parrott (ENG) 0
5 Brazil Igor Figueiredo 4
4 Scotland Stephen Hendry 1
4  Stephen Hendry (SCO) 3
 Patsy Fagan (IRL) 0
1 England Jimmy White 3
7 England David Lilley 5
3  Michael Judge (IRL) 2
 Patrick Wallace (NIR) 3
  Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 4
6 England Barry Pinches 2
6  Barry Pinches (ENG) 3
 Dennis Taylor (NIR) 0
  Northern Ireland Patrick Wallace 1
7 England David Lilley 4
7  David Lilley (ENG) 3
 Philip Williams (WAL) 1
7 England David Lilley 4
2 Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty 3
2  Ken Doherty (IRL) 3
 Joe Johnson (ENG) 0

Final

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Final: Best of 9 frames. Referee: Leo Scullion
Crucible Theatre, 9 May 2021
Jimmy White (1)
 England
3–5 David Lilley (7)
 England
16–76 (74), 44–52, 18–69, 85–0 (85), 113–7 (63), 110–32 (56), 49–63, 20–77 (69)
85 Highest break 74
0 Century breaks 0
3 50+ breaks 2
2021 World Seniors Champion
England David Lilley

Century breaks

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There were four century breaks in the main stage of the World Seniors Championship. The highest was a 134 made by Morgan.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Turner, Chris. "Masters/Seniors Snooker (Over 40s)". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h World Seniors Snooker (16 April 2021). "The ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Tour is today pleased to announce the 16 players who will compete in their World Championship from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Lilley foils White's Seniors hat-trick". Snooker Scene. June 2021. p. 32.
  4. ^ a b c Kane, Desmond (8 May 2021). "World Seniors Snooker Championship – Dennis Taylor announces retirement after 49-year playing career". Eurosport. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "ROKiT World Seniors Championship (2021)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Match Sheet: Last 16 - Ken Doherty vs Joe Johnson". snookerscores.net. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "World Seniors Snooker Championship 2021 – Jimmy White continues title defence but Stephen Hendry crashes out". Eurosport. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Jimmy White vs Darren Morgan". snookerscores.net. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Stephen Hendry vs Igor Figueiredo". snookerscores.net. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Barry Pinches vs Patrick Wallace". snookerscores.net. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Match Sheet: Quarter-final - Ken Doherty vs David Lilley". snookerscores.net. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  12. ^ Haigh, Phil (10 May 2021). "David Lilley reacts to beating his 'hero' Jimmy White in World Seniors Snooker Championship final". Metro. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "World Seniors Snooker Championship 2021 – David Lilley denies Jimmy White hat-trick of titles". Eurosport. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Match Sheet: Semi-final - Jimmy White vs Igor Figueiredo". snookerscores.net. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Match Sheet: Semi-final - David Lilley vs Patrick Wallace". snookerscores.net. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Champion of Champions 2021 – Below-par Judd Trump wins Group 1 opener against World Seniors champion David Lilley". Eurosport. 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  17. ^ World Seniors Snooker (23 April 2021). "The last 16 line-up for the 2021 ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship is now known..." Facebook. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  18. ^ Association, World Professional Billiards and Snooker. "WPBSA SnookerScores - ROKiT World Seniors Championship - 50+ Breaks". snookerscores.net. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.