Ronnie O’Sullivan made a triumphant debut at the World Seniors Snooker Championship, defeating Joe Perry 10-4 in the final.
The 50-year-old, who has won the main World Championship seven times, had announced his intention to compete in the seniors event for the first time at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre earlier this year.
After being eliminated from the second round of the World Championship by John Higgins, O’Sullivan powered past Ken Doherty, Peter Lines, and Robert Milkins to reach the seniors final. He capped off an impressive week with five century breaks in his victory over fellow Englishman Perry.
O’Sullivan raced to a 5-2 lead with three centuries before Perry, 51, fought back to reduce the deficit to 5-3 heading into the evening session. The British Seniors Open champion, who retired from professional play after last year’s main World Championship, then took the first frame of the session to make it 5-4. However, O’Sullivan regained his composure, winning the next five frames and adding two more centuries to secure a comfortable victory.
Changes to seniors tournament rules now allow players aged 45 or over who are ranked in the world’s top 64 to participate.
