Alfie Burden Wins 2025 JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker Championship
Alfie Burden is the 2025 JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker champion after he defeated Aaron Canavan 8-4 at the Crucible Theatre on Sunday.
The 48-year-old, who was the last player to qualify for the event via the Golden Ticket Play-Off last month, came through a strong field at the famous venue to lift the most prestigious title in seniors snooker for the first time.
Burden’s campaign began with a repeat of the 2023 World Seniors Snooker Championship final and he exacted revenge on four-time winner Jimmy White, before showing his fighting qualities from 3-0 down against Maltese legend Tony Drago to advance to the semi-finals.
A comfortable 6-2 victory over Australian debutant Hassan Kerde then set up a title match meeting with 2018 champion Aaron Canavan from Jersey after he stunned Dominic Dale in the last four.
The best-of-15 frame final was split into three mini-sessions of five frames and the first of these saw a moment of history as Michaela Tabb, who became the first female referee to take charge of a World Snooker Championship final in 2009, took charge of her final frames at the Crucible Theatre.
It was Canavan who broke the deadlock but the Englishman quickly hit back to take four successive frames, with help from contributions of 74 and 54, to lead 4-1 at the first interval.
A 75 saw the cueist from Jersey reduce the deficit before Burden once again showed off his scoring prowess by hit consecutive breaks 65, 109 and 80 to move one away from victory at 7-2.
Canavan was able to avoid defeat before the second interval as he took frame 10 and further threatened a comeback by taking the next to put the scoreline at 7-4.
Burden admitted afterwards that, even at 7-3 ahead, he had told his coach Patsy Fagan that he “wasn’t fancying winning” but there were few signs of nerves in the title-winning frame as he fired in a flamboyant break of 76 to get over the line as an 8-4 victor.
Following the victory, Burden said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I thought I played well in the final. It’s been a massive journey with so many ups and downs. I think it’s been well documented that I think I’ve underachieved in my career but you’ve got to enjoy this moment.
“It was a strong field this week and I felt like I played the best snooker and deserved to win the tournament. Jimmy White texted me this morning and so did Ken Doherty – we are all great friends and players get behind each other. Only one person can win and this was my week.”
