Crucible Legends Falter as Drago Flies the Flag in World Seniors Championship
The 2025 World Seniors Championship in Sheffield got off to a dramatic start as several fan favourites fell at the first hurdle, with Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and Tony Knowles all suffering early exits at the Crucible Theatre. Despite the disappointments, the crowd was treated to a thrilling comeback by Tony Drago, who now carries the hopes of the veterans into the quarter-finals.
Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White, chasing his fifth World Seniors title, saw his campaign end in a 4-1 defeat to Alfie Burden—a reversal of their 2022 final encounter, which White won 5-3. White, who managed an impressive break of 82 in the third frame, couldn’t build on the momentum. Burden, displaying excellent composure, responded with a 92 to seal the match. Speaking after the loss, White graciously praised his opponent: “Alfie played well. I hope he goes and wins it. I think I was a bit jabby. He punished me when I made mistakes. The victory belongs to Alfie.”
Former world champion Ken Doherty also bowed out after squandering a 2-0 lead against South African Charl Jonck. Doherty’s early dominance was undone by Jonck’s resilience and clinical scoring, as the underdog stormed back to take four consecutive frames, backed by two 60-plus breaks.
The biggest bright spot for the crowd came from Malta’s Tony Drago, whose high-tempo style thrilled spectators. Drago edged a tight 4-3 win over Gerard Greene, starting with a 75 break and finishing with a 68 in a pulsating decider. He now sets up a quarter-final showdown with Alfie Burden, promising another cracker.
Meanwhile, veteran Tony Knowles endured a tough outing, losing 4-0 to Hassan Kerde, who compiled four solid 50+ breaks. Kerde’s confident performance sets up a Friday night encounter with Jonck.
As the quarter-finals approach, all eyes turn to Dominic Dale vs. Joe Perry and the much-anticipated clash between Burden and Drago—two players riding high on form and momentum.
