Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor and Jimmy White are among a unique gathering of snooker legends coming to Bradford this November to compete in the first ever World Seniors Snooker Championship.

The tournament, which takes place from 5th to 7th November at Cedar Court Hotel, will feature nine famous players, of which seven are former World Champions.

Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Joe Johnson, Cliff Thorburn, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott, Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon, and Nigel Bond will be battling it out over three days of stiff, top quality competition to become the inaugural World Seniors Snooker Champion.

And to top it off, the event will be compered by TV favourites Willie Thorne and John Virgo, who has promised to reprise his famous snooker player impressions for the audience.

And snooker fans can now buy tickets to secure their place at this rare event.

Prices range from £15 for seats at the quarter finals to £65 for a seat at the Sportsman’s Dinner on the Friday night. Guests at the Sportsman’s Dinner will see the first match of the tournament and may even find that they are seated next to a snooker legend!

Tickets can be purchased from www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

The event is being organized by Bradford businessman Dave Shipley and former snooker World Champion Joe Johnson.

Joe said:

“People often say that all the great characters have disappeared from snooker – well, I’m not sure that’s true but we’ve certainly found some of the biggest characters around! These are some of the greatest players to have ever competed in the sport – and that’s no exaggeration. They’re part of that golden age of snooker when everybody, and I mean everybody, would tune in to watch the World Championship.”

He added:

“We’re going to make sure this is a fun event that all the family can enjoy, but mark my words – when those players get those cues in their hands they’ll only have one thing on their minds and that’s winning! There’ll be a few old scores to settle and some old rivalries will resurface. I’m a Bradford boy and I’m really proud to be involved in bringing this event to the city. It shows again that Yorkshire really is the global home of snooker.”

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said:

“This event promises to be a fantastic celebration of snooker. The line-up looks like a who's who of the great names who made snooker so popular in the 1980s. For anyone who fell in love with the game when the likes of Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor and Cliff Thorburn were always on TV, it's an event not to be missed. And I'd also encourage younger fans to take this opportunity to see some sporting legends in action. There will be some high quality snooker played and it will also be a lot of fun because all of the players know how to entertain."

The World Seniors Snooker Championship provides all number of tantalizing possible match ups: Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor replaying their famous 1985 black ball final; Jimmy White – always the people’s champion though never a World Champion – claiming the title; or Question of Sport’s John Parrott and Yorkshire’s only World Snooker Champion Joe Johnson bantering it out over seven frames.

Over 1,000 spectators are expected to attend over the three days and early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

The event will be filmed and broadcast by Sky over Christmas.

Photocall

Thursday, 2nd September, 2.30pm
Cue Gardens, Stadium Mills, Stadium Road, Bradford, BD6 1BJ, 01274 607 990
To photograph event organizer and Yorkshire’s only snooker World Champion Joe Johnson.
There will also be the opportunity to speak to Joe. If you would like to speak to him please let us know so we can book some time.

For further media information please contact Dan Jeffrey, Bonner & Hindley Communications, on 0113 243 4713, dan@bandhcommunications.co.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Cedar Court Hotel
• Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford is easily accessible from J26 of the M62. The hotel has 131 bedrooms, 15 conference rooms and a 13m pool and fully equipped gymnasium. It is one of the largest and most popular business tourism hotels in the region.

Bradford
• In 2009 UNESCO awarded Bradford the title, ‘Bradford City of Film’ in recognition of its rich film and TV history.

The World Seniors Snooker Championship

• Schedule of Events

Fri  5 Nov
7.30pm – Sportsman’s Dinner
During dinner Nigel Bond (qualifying winner) vs Peter Ebdon

Sat 7 Nov
12am – 1st and 2nd Quarter Finals (best of 3)
1.30pm – Sportsman’s Lunch
3pm – 3rd Quarter Final (best of 3)
7.15pm – 4th Quarter Final (best of 3)
8.15pm – First semi-final (best of 5)
9.30pm – John Virgo trick shots and impressions
10pm – Sportsman’s Supper with Willie Thorne

Sun 8 Nov
12pm Second semi-final (best of 5)
1.30pm – Sportsman’s Lunch
3pm – Final (best of 7)

• Tickets

Tables
Friday: Sportman’s Dinner with Top Entertainer & Willie Thorne - £65
(Tables of 10)

Saturday: Quarter Final, First Semi-Final, Sportsman’s Supper with John
Virgo & Willie Thorne - £55
(Tables of 8)

Seats only
Saturday Day (3 Quarter-Finals) - £15

Saturday Night  (4th Quarter-Final & 1st Semi-Final) - £15

Sunday (2nd Semi-Final & Final) - £20

For Further Details Contact Dave Shipley on 07850 734868 or to book tickets visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets or www.seetickets.com