World Seniors Snooker Championship final 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Alfie Burden thrashes Aaron Canavan in epic showpiece match
ALFIE BURDEN has been crowned king of the World Seniors Snooker Championship for 2025 after humiliating Aaron Canavan in a thrilling Crucible final!
The English icon beat Canavan 8-4 but it could have been worse had he not let his foot off the gas.
This also marks Burden's first-ever Seniors title, snatching the crown off Igor Figueiredo.
Much-loved snooker heroes Jimmy White and Ken Doherty suffered shock exits in the first round.
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Igor Figueiredo 2-1 Wayne Townsend (7-23)
Townsend back on the table and the reds are open a little here after that safety from Figueiredo.
Little sniff of an opportunity at a decent score.
Igor Figueiredo 2-1 Wayne Townsend (7-22)
Figueiredo tries to open the pack of reds in his counter but he fails to do so, as the cue ball tracks its way round the table off a couple of cushions and skates narrowly by.
He plays the cue ball to baulk.
Igor Figueiredo 2-1 Wayne Townsend (0-22)
Another bow of the head from Townsend as he misses a simple black off the spot.
Just the one red loose now so he wouldn't have had much on after that but that was a comfortable enough shot he's just missed.
Igor Figueiredo 2-1 Wayne Townsend (0-9)
Here's a chance for Townsend now after sinking reds in consecutive visits, only this time he's able to follow it up with the black.
A few loose reds to attack but eventually he'll need to play into the bunch.
Igor Figueiredo 2-1 Wayne Townsend
So it'll be Townsend to break in frame four and he'll be keen, obviously, to win this one.
Remember, it's just a race to four, so not much margin for error at all.
Igor Figueiredo 2-1 Wayne Townsend
Another beauty from Figueiredo as he again is presented with a chance to have a go at a long red.
His cueing is ridiculous and very pure, with the cue ball rocketed against that red which arrows into the right corner pocket.
Another couple of colours follow but that red essentially wraps things up and he noses in front.
Igor Figueiredo 1-1 Wayne Townsend (63-22)
Figueiredo with a break of 49 to almost wrap up this third frame.
Again, his long potting has been so, so slick. Until the final red on the table which rattles against the jaws of the right corner pocket.
He's left Townsend needing snookers - two to be exact - and he comes to the table looking for them.
Igor Figueiredo 1-1 Wayne Townsend (14-22)
Just the 14 points added to his total there for Townsend who shakes his head in his chair.
He's forced to get the cue ball safe when not leaving himself a shot on.
Couple of opportunities just passing him by in the last half hour or so.
The table still very inviting.
Igor Figueiredo 1-1 Wayne Townsend (14-8)
Massive frustration for Figueiredo who has a swing of his cue.
Both men get a couple of early points on the board before Townsend really opens the reds up before getting the cue ball relatively safe.
Not safe enough as Figueiredo sinks a long red before missing the cut on the black. He's raging at that, it looked a prime opportunity. Townsend returns looking to capitalise.
Igor Figueiredo 1-1 Wayne Townsend
And that is exactly as it panned out as Figueiredo levels things up.
A great response, won with his first visit on the table effectively.
That's not to say there weren't chances for Townsend in there, who came back with four reds left and missed a red into the right centre pocket which Figueiredo capitalised on by clearing up.
All-square!
Igor Figueiredo 0-1 Wayne Townsend (63-14)
Not quite the visit Townsend would've wanted as he's forced to play safe.
The reds in the bottom half of the table not helping much with that and you'd still think it is big Igor's to win from here with that lead.
Igor Figueiredo 0-1 Wayne Townsend (63-8)
Figueiredo with the chance to claim the frame in this visit but his break comes to a close.
His lead is 55 points but there are 67 points still on the table as Townsend returns to the table, with five reds out there.
Igor Figueiredo 0-1 Wayne Townsend (23-0)
Great opening visit from Figueiredo in response to that opening frame.
A superb long red into the left corner pocket from the Townsend break and he's rolling along with an ongoing break of 23.
Igor Figueiredo 0-1 Wayne Townsend
What a shot - what a frame win from Wayne Townsend!
This first frame is down to the black ball - just the sort of finish we all love.
It looks like Townsend needs to play safe with the black close to the top cushion, only for Townsend to double it off there and send it right down the table and into the yellow pocket.
Huge cheers from this crowd as he holds his arms aloft. Stephen Hendry took nine days to complete that challenge on his socials!
Latest – Igor Figueiredo 0-1 Wayne Townsend
Wayne Townsend is off to the perfect start against the reigning champion.
Latest - Igor Figueiredo 0-0 Wayne Townsend
Tonight's opener is under way.
Coming up - World Seniors champ launches defence
Brazilian Igor Figueiredo opens his defence with a tough-looking match.
The 47-year-old takes on Londoner Wayne Townsend, 45.
Figueiredo beat Ken Doherty in last year's final.
And in fact he's got excellent seniors pedigree - going all the way back to finishing runner-up in the UK Seniors Championship seven years ago.
Recap – as Dale wins weeks after ‘retiring’
Englishman Joe Perry and Dominic Dale had 4-2 victories in an entertaining day’s action.
Perry sunk Brazilian Fabio Anderson Luersen.
Then 53-year-old Welshman Dale saw off Craig Steadman’s fightback.
The Spaceman retired as a professional player after failing to qualify for the .
Dale bowed out with defeat to Daniel Wells.
Just a year earlier he’d become the oldest player since Steve Davis in 2010 to make it through to that main Crucible event.
Hybrid car for first to bag a 147
The first player to notch a maximum break at the championship will land a £31,000 car.
World Seniors Snooker linked with a vehicle dealer to offer a BYD SEAL U - a plug-in hybrid SUV.
WSS chairman Jason Francis said: “The JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker Championship celebrates legacy and memories, honouring former legends and creating new ones.
"For many, the historical prize for a 147 break was always a car and so we are delighted to partner with BYD Lookers Sheffield to offer this fantastic prize.”
Coming up tonight - as Norman bids for revenge
Brazilian Igor Figueiredo, 47, takes on English ace 45-year-old Wayne Townsend from 7pm tonight.
And in the evening's second match, Aaron Canavan meets Andrew Norman in an all-England clash - with a hint of an edge about it.
That's because Canavan pipped Norman 4-3 in the final of the seventh Race to the Crucible Series event back in February.
Dale hails first Crucible ton to win it 4-2
Dominic Dale enjoyed sealing victory over Craig Steadman in the way he'd dreamed of.
The Welshman saw his English rival fight back from 2-0 up to 2-2 before Dale clinched victory with his first ever century at the Crucible.
Having retired from the professional game earlier this year, the 53-year-old joked of his nervy spell: "That's why I retired - I just can't do it any more!
"I made a couple of mistakes and Craig came back to 2-2."
But of his fantastic finale, Dale said: "Brilliant - a century, I couldn't do it as a pro!"
Dominic Dale 3-2 Craig Steadman
Dale edges back in front and is now just one frame away from the win.
Whoever progresses will face Joe Perry in the quarter-finals.
Dominic Dale 2-2 Craig Steadman
Following two quick frames, Steadman finds himself level.
This match could go down to the wire.
Dominic Dale 2-1 Craig Steadman
Steadman gets 88 points on the board to win his first frame of the match.
Dominic Dale 2-0 Craig Steadman
Dale makes it two! He just needs two more to win the match.