Joe Perry Bids Farewell to the Main Snooker Tour After 33-Year Career
Joe Perry has officially announced that the 2025 World Snooker Championship will mark the end of his career as a professional player on the main tour. The 50-year-old, affectionately known as “The Gentleman,” confirmed his retirement following a 10-6 win over Dylan Emery at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, moving him one step closer to a poignant farewell at the Crucible Theatre.
After 33 years on the World Snooker Tour, Perry has chosen not to fight for his tour survival, despite being ranked outside the top 64 and still in contention to qualify for the World Championship proper. The two-time ranking event winner admitted that the decision had been in the making for more than a year and was not made lightly.
“I have officially retired,” Perry revealed to the World Snooker Tour. “I will keep playing snooker – I’ve got the World Seniors Championship – but my time as a professional is up after this tournament.”
This campaign has been different for Perry, who acknowledged the shift in pressure now that he’s playing for enjoyment rather than ranking points. “It’s not easy when you play as ropy as I do these days, but I’m trying my best,” he said. “The boys are so good these days, the standard is so high. But all the time that I’m around, I’ve got a chance.”
Perry now faces Yuan Sijun in the penultimate round of qualifying. With two more wins, he could end his career on the hallowed Crucible stage – the setting he dreams of for his final professional match.
Over his long and respected career, Perry reached the World Championship semi-finals, lifted two ranking titles – including the prestigious Welsh Open in 2022 – and captured several minor titles. While his days on the main tour may be ending, Perry’s love for the game remains strong, as he sets his sights on the World Seniors Tour, where fans will continue to see the Gentleman in action.
