Former Champion Lines Qualifies for World Seniors
Former World Seniors Snooker Champion Peter Lines will have the opportunity to regain that title later this year at the Crucible Theatre during the venue stages of the 2023 event, after winning the fourth and final qualifying competition this past weekend in Reading.
Lines has been one of the most successful figures on the seniors scene in recent years, claiming the circuit’s world title in 2017 in Scunthorpe.
The Leeds cueist – who still plys his trade on the professional tour – narrowly missed out on qualification last time out at event three when he lost via a deciding frame to Alfie Burden in the final. However, Lines went one better on this occasion at the Crucible Sports and Social Club to book a spot for the 16-player final stages which take place between May 3-7.
Victories against Patrick Wallace (3-1), Marc Shaw (3-1) and James Height (3-0) saw Lines progress to Sunday’s final eight phase. He then eliminated former two-time qualifier for this event Gary Filtness (4-1) and 2022 WSF Championship runner-up Lee Stephens (4-2) in the last eight and four, respectively.
Coming through the other side of the draw was former professional Andrew Norman, the current English seniors champion.
On his way to the final, Norman compiled a couple of century breaks and dispatched Rory McLeod and Craig Steadman – both 4-2 – on finals day in consecutive rounds.
However, Lines was not to be denied a return to Sheffield as he ran out a 4-2 winner in the title match to join previous Reading qualifiers Ben Hancorn, Gerard Greene and Burden in the main draw.
