White and Burden Reach World Seniors Final
Jimmy White and Alfie Burden will contest the final of the 2023 LLP Solicitors World Seniors Snooker Championship after they won their respective semi-final encounters during Sunday afternoon’s session at the Crucible Theatre.
Three-time champion White was the first player to reach the showpiece match after he ended the run of an invigorated Tony Drago.
The Whirlwind won the opening frame with the help of a 64 break and doubled his advantage in the second. Drago – playing in this event for the first time in nearly four years – responded with a rapid 72 break in the third frame; nine reds and nine blacks before going in-off when potting the tenth red and trying to get position back at the top of the table.
However, an impressive White crafted breaks of 74, 56 and 68 as he claimed the next two frames for a 4-1 victory.
Since the tournament moved here in 2019, White has reached the final on every occasion. He will be looking to add to the titles he claimed in 2010, 2020 and 2021.
Burden will feature in his maiden world seniors final after he put on a brilliant performance to defeat Ben Hancorn 4-1 in a high-quality affair.
Breaks of 86, 72 and 56 were chalked up by the 46-year-old as he established a 3-0 lead before Crucible debutant Hancorn – who had done little wrong – kept his hopes alive and got on the board with an effort of 85 in the fourth frame. Burden, though, got over the line in the next, registering a run of 101 to set up a mouthwatering clash with fellow Londoner and good friend White.
Both White and Burden have dropped just two frames each in the event so far.
The best-of-nine frames final will take place from 19:00GMT on Sunday evening. Details on how to watch can be found here.
