Burden and Canavan Set Up World Final Meeting

Alfie Burden and Aaron Canavan will meet in the final of the 2025 JenningsBet World Seniors Snooker Championship on Sunday afternoon.

The two former finalists reached the title match by overcoming Hassan Kerde and Dominic Dale respectively on a memorable semi-final Saturday at the iconic Crucible Theatre.

Canavan heads into the title match aiming to become only the second multiple champion of the most prestigious event in seniors snooker, after four-time winner Jimmy White, while Burden hopes to go one step further than he did in 2023 when he ended as runner-up to ‘The Whirlwind’.

Former professional Burden and Asia-Pacific Seniors champion Kerde, from Australia, kicked off a bumper session with a best-of-11 frame contest.

Burden was in fine form and he wasted no time in racing into a 4-0 lead with breaks of 57 and 65. The Australian briefly rallied, taking back-to-back frames to half the deficit, but a rapid-fire contribution of 97 put Burden back in the acendency and he secured his place in the final by taking the next frame.

Post-match, Burden said: “It was a tough game but I was pleased with the way I played and it stands me in good stead for the final. I’ve prepared well, practiced hard and I feel confident. I feel really strong – I’m going out and expecting to win tomorrow.”

The second semi-final of the afternoon saw Canavan face Dale and, after sharing the first four frames of the contest, ‘The Spaceman’ appeared to step up a gear and fired in back-to-back century breaks of 109 and 131 before moving one frame from victory by taking the seventh.

The man from Jersey refused to go away, however, and managed to take the next three frames with a top visit of 65 to force an unlikely deciding frame.

The decider was a nervy affair with both players spurning golden opportunities for the win. Ultimately, it was Canavan who took it on the colours to complete a famous comeback and set up a final meeting with Burden.

Canavan said: “It was tough. After last night, I was really tired but I gave myself a good talking to in the dressing room and came out fighting. It’s dream, you never think that you will get there and then all of a sudden something happens and you’re actually living the dream.”

The final takes place on Sunday 11 May from 12:00 BST  live on Channel 5.