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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That's all folks
That is all from us at SunSport after an exciting World Seniors Snooker Championship.
Alfie Burden was crowned king of the World Seniors Snooker Championship after thrashing Aaron Canavan in a thrilling Crucible final!
We hope you enjoyed this as much as us, have a great night!
Zhao Xintong benefit
A British snooker star has inadvertently benefited from Zhao Xintong's historic World Championship win.
Dylan Emery has regained his pro tour card for the next two seasons after finishing behind Zhao in the amateur Q Tour Europe Rankings.
The 24-year-old cueist from Caerphilly has now earned back his professional stripes after being relegated from the tour in 2024.
That’s because Emery now takes World Champion Zhao’s pro ticket from this season’s Q Tour rankings.
'Save our Snooker'
Former Bank of England chief economist Andrew Haldane has urged the government to intervene and come up with a plan to keep snooker's home in the UK.
Haldane has called on them to invest in the game as it is "growing rapidly" across the world and losing it would damage the economy.
The WST (World Snooker Tour) wants a larger, more state-of-the-sport venue, perhaps with Saudi Arabia or China as hosts and backers.
Capacity at the Crucible, at under 1,000, is small and unchanged in half a century. Prize money for the world champion, at £500,000, is modest by modern sport standards.
This is nuts. The UK can ill-afford to lose winners like these.
The government will only achieve national growth by growing the UK’s regions and nations. Backed at scale, sport is one of the most effective drivers of local growth.
In this century Sheffield and snooker could become as synonymous, and internationally recognised, as were Sheffield and steel in the previous one.
Industrial strategy is not about picking winners but sticking with them. For the UK economy sport, snooker and Sheffield are a winning team and rising star.
An investment here would deliver the holy grail of local growth to meet national objectives with global ambition.
Andrew Haldane
Major snooker change
The UK is in danger of losing snooker to Saudi Arabia or China, according to a financial expert.
The World Championship has been held at the Crucible in Sheffield since 1997 and it has become a staple of British sport.
But the deal expires in 2027 and chief Barry Hearn has hinted at moving the event away from its spiritual home.
Ex-Bank of England chief economist Andrew Haldane has urged the government to intervene and come up with a plan to keep snooker's home in the UK.
Haldane has called on them to invest in the game as it is "growing rapidly" across the world and losing it would damage the economy.
How much did Burden win?
The prize money for the 2025 edition of the World Seniors Snooker Championship remained the same as last year.
A huge £50,000 pot was up for grabs at the Crucible.
Winner Alfie Burden will take home a whopping £20,000, while the runner-up Aaron Canavan will receive a cool £10,000.
White makes retirement decision
Jimmy White has revealed that he intends to play snooker until the age of 65.
He said: “This last year my schedule was too busy. I was all over the place doing exhibitions and my preparation wasn’t the greatest.
“I have to manage it a bit differently for the next two years but if I don’t find some form, this will be my last two years.
“You’ve got to show the form on the table. My game is in good shape but I’ve not got any results this year.
“If I didn’t think I could win, I wouldn’t play. The minute I think I can’t win, I won’t play. But I don’t take any regard of what people say about me playing on.
“Is there a chance I’ll play at 70? No. I’m going to see out these two years and if I find some consistency, then I’ll make a decision. But if I don’t, I’m going to go and play bad golf.”
Credit: Getty O'Sullivan backed by Hearn
Barry Hearn is keen to get behind Ronnie O’Sullivan’s proposal for snooker academies across the UK.
Hearn gives Crucible warning
Barry Hearn sent an ominous warning about the future of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
The Matchroom chief and snooker promoter continues to insist the tournament could end up leaving the iconic theatre.
Asked if snooker's biggest tournament will stay put, Hearn told Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe: "I hope so but we've got to live in the real world.
"So much of professional sport is about money.
"And as much as we want to stay here desperately, it's got to be something that fits into the overall picture of where the game is going.
"This is a huge game. We mustn't be parochial in our attitude.
"As long as everyone understands that and comes to the party in a reasonable and respectful way, I'm hopeful we can stay here.
"We must know by the end of the year. The clock is ticking."
Credit: PA Results recap
Click here for a full list of results from the World Seniors Snooker Championship...
'Save our snooker'
In his 'Save our Snooker' SOS in the Financial Times, Andrew Haldane wrote: "The WST (World Snooker Tour) wants a larger, more state-of-the-sport venue, perhaps with Saudi Arabia or China as hosts and backers.
"Capacity at the Crucible, at under 1,000, is small and unchanged in half a century. Prize money for the world champion, at £500,000, is modest by modern sport standards.
"This is nuts. The UK can ill-afford to lose winners like these.
"The government will only achieve national growth by growing the UK’s regions and nations. Backed at scale, sport is one of the most effective drivers of local growth.
"In this century Sheffield and snooker could become as synonymous, and internationally recognised, as were Sheffield and steel in the previous one. Industrial strategy is not about picking winners but sticking with them.
“For the UK economy sport, snooker and Sheffield are a winning team and rising star.
"An investment here would deliver the holy grail of local growth to meet national objectives with global ambition."
Credit: Alamy UK in danger of losing snooker
The UK is in danger of losing snooker to Saudi Arabia or China, according to a financial expert.
The World Championship has been held at the Crucible in Sheffield since 1997 and it has become a staple of British sport.
But the deal expires in 2027 and chief Barry Hearn has hinted at moving the event away from its spiritual home.
Ex-Bank of England chief economist Andrew Haldane has urged the government to intervene and come up with a plan to keep snooker's home in the UK.
Haldane has called on them to invest in the game as it is "growing rapidly" across the world and losing it would damage the economy.
More on Burden
He added: "It’s been a massive journey. There are so many ups and downs being a snooker player.
"I’ve been well documented with saying I’m not happy with how I’ve underachieved in my career.
"But you’ve got to enjoy this moment. We all know I’m not the best over-45 player in the world.
"There are players ineligible to play in this event, but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
"I’ve beaten the best that was on offer. It was a strong field this week. I felt like I played the best snooker and deserved to win the tournament."
Burden on World Championship win
Alfie Burden said "it sounds amazing" to be called the Seniors world champion.
"I’m absolutely delighted. I thought I played well in the final. It was a bit twitchy at the end.
"I needed a big bit of luck to get the opportunity, and then I took the opportunity.
"You have enough bad luck in your career, so when a little bit of good fortune comes along, you’ve got to take it with both hands – and I did."
How much did Burden win?
The prize money for the 2025 edition of the World Seniors Snooker Championship remained the same as last year.
A huge £50,000 pot was up for grabs at the Crucible.
Winner Alfie Burden will take home a whopping £20,000, while the runner-up Aaron Canavan will receive a cool £10,000.
Burden tribute
Speaking after the final, Burden paid a touching tribute to his mother.
He dedicated the win to her after opening up on how he always doubted himself and how she told him he was always destined to do something with a ball after going to bed with one at 18 months old.
Alfie Burden’s path to glory
- R1: 4-1 vs Jimmy White
- R2: 4-3 vs Tony Drago
- SF: 6-2 vs Hassan Kerde
- F: 8-4 vs Aaron Canavan
ICYMI: Burden wins Crucible
Morning!
Crucible future
The World Seniors Snooker Championship will remain at the at the Crucible Theatre until 2027 after mummers of a potential change of venue for the tournament in the last few weeks due to attendance concerns.
The tournament has been held at the iconic arena since 2019 after moving from Scunthorpe.
Final's pot
The prize money for the 2025 edition of the World Seniors Snooker Championship which remained the same as last year.
A huge £50,000 pot was up for grabs at the Crucible.
Our winner Alfie Burden will take home a whopping £20,000, while the runner-up Aaron Canavan will receive a cool £10,000.
Simple message from Burden on socials
Coming of age year for Burden
Until this year, Alfie Burden had only won one of his three professional career finals, UK Tour - Event 1 in 1998 - he has now doubled that tally in the last few weeks.
First with the World Seniors Golden Ticket Tournament in late April, where he edged past Matthew Ford 4-3 in the final and now the most prestigious honour in the World Seniors Championship.
Winner Burden speaks on win
Evening reading
Includes more Crucible fallout:
Alfie Burden's path to title triumph
- R1: 4-1 vs Jimmy White
- R2: 4-3 vs Tony Drago
- SF: 6-2 vs Hassan Kerde
- F: 8-4 vs Aaron Canavan
Burden tribute
Speaking after the final, Burden paid a touching tribute to his mother.
He dedicated the win to her after opening up on how he always doubted himself and how she told him he was always destined to do something with a ball after going to bed with one at 18 months old.
A classy move.
