Significant World Senior Snooker change could see star names play for first time
Could the Rocket be tempted to join?
The partnership between World Snooker Tour (WST) and World Seniors Snooker (WSS) has been terminated, which could see some of the sports biggest names appear in the Seniors events for the first time.
Professional players on the WST over 40 years old have been able to compete in Seniors events, but only if they were outside the top 64 in the world rankings, as part of the agreement between the organisations.
However, WSS have been pushing for a change to this arrangement, hoping for any players over 45 years old to be able to play in their tournaments.
There are plenty of high profile players over 45 years old in the top 64 of the world rankings, notably Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams.
An agreement has not been reached and the partnership between the two organisations will come to an end after the upcoming World Seniors Championship in May.
This means that any professional players over 45 will now be able to compete in Seniors events as long as it does not clash with a WST tournament.
A statement from WSS read: ‘Following a request from World Seniors Snooker to include players currently inside the top 64 on the World Rankings, and attempts to negotiate these changes to allow WST and WSS to continue in partnership, a compromise was unable to be met.
‘WSS is aware some tour players within the top 64, and over the age of 45, have approached WST to request permission to play in WSS Events. Also the WPBSA Players Board were supportive of the changes in the WST Tour players contract, which allow any third party promoter to invite any tour player irrespective of their ranking position, should also apply to WSS.
‘WST extended the option to terminate the agreement which WSS have chosen to exercise. As a result, both parties have mutually agreed to an early termination of the Sanctioning Agreement, which will take effect on May 12, following the conclusion of the 2025 World Seniors Snooker Championship.
‘WST and WSS remain committed to the sport of snooker and recognise the contributions of players at all levels. Both organisations sincerely appreciate the support of players, fans, and stakeholders and look forward to continuing to celebrate the rich history and future of the game.’
A World Snooker Tour statement read: ‘WST have worked with WSS for several years to support the running and promotion of their events to benefit senior players who have dropped off the tour. The original purpose of WSS was to enable senior players to continue to benefit from earning opportunities and allows fans to see them in action. On this basis WST offered a broad range of assistance, from promotion to logistical support.
‘Recently however, WSS have fundamentally changed their objectives. A request was made to include players currently inside the top 64 on the World Rankings. This is clearly contrary to the intended purpose of the senior’s tour as originally supported by WST.
‘After attempts to negotiate these changes to allow WST and WSS to continue in partnership, a compromise was unable to be met. WST extended the option to terminate the agreement which WSS have chosen to exercise.
‘WST continues to be focused on the global development of the sport for the benefit of the 128 players on the tour.’
WSS chairman Jason Francis aimed to clarify the situation, writing on X: ‘The announcement of today’s agreement with World Snooker, which I signed a week ago, means from next season any pro player over 45 can accept an invitation or enter a qualifier for TV seniors event provided it is staged on a day of no World Snooker event. Hope that explains all the messages.
‘Seniors now has the chance to use the bigger names to stage more events with more players and more prize money and more opportunities for amateur players… dare to dream.’
Francis is already at odds with WST as a director of NST Worldwide, which launched legal proceedings earlier this year against WST.
NST Worldwide claimed in January that ‘unlawful and anti-competitive practices’ have been used to prevent snooker players ‘playing in tournaments, events, or matches organised by competitor promoters.’
A brief statement from World Snooker Tour at the time read: ‘WST rejects the claims and will defend them.’
