\t\t![\"World](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2209161708.jpg\")
\n\t\tSHEFFIELD, ENGLAND \u2013 APRIL 08: Jimmy White of England reacts in the first round match against Anton Kazakov of Ukraine on day 2 of World Championship Qualifiers 2025 at English Institute of Sport on April 8, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Tai Chengzhe\/VCG via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
There are some who suggest the World Seniors Snooker<\/a> Championship should not be held at the Crucible, but Jimmy White tells those people: \u2018Get a life.\u2019<\/p>\n The Seniors event began on Wednesday night at the iconic theatre in Sheffield, just two days after Wu Yize<\/a> won the World Snooker Championship<\/a> in the same building.<\/p>\n It is a chance for players who have formerly walked out at the Crucible to do so again, while some who have never come close to gracing the venue in the World Championship have the opportunity to do so at Seniors level.<\/p>\n The World Seniors Championship has been held at the Crucible since 2019, but world number 31 Dave Gilbert is not on board with it.<\/p>\n The Angry Farmer feels the venue is snooker\u2019s hallowed ground and should be kept for the pinnacle of the sport alone.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a special place,\u2019 he said. \u2018It\u2019s brilliant that it\u2019s staying there, you know.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tAre you snooker loopy?\t\t\t<\/p>\n You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In my newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week.<\/p>\n We’ve just seen one of the greatest World Championships of all time, so there’s no better time to sign up<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s a travesty for any professional that doesn\u2019t get to play there, it is a special place. I hate that they play the Seniors there. I think that\u2019s shocking.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The only people that should play at the Crucible are people that go through this qualifying school or a top 16 professional. It\u2019s not for hacking around in exhibitions. It\u2019s the Mecca of snooker.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve played all around the world, in Saudi and that, but to me they\u2019re absolutely boring and rubbish. <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m old, you see, so I\u2019m not into it all the time, but the Crucible\u2019s the one.<\/p>\n \u2018The aura about the place and how unique it is, you know. You find out, you either sink or swim and that\u2019s it, you know what I mean?\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t White has won the World Seniors Championship four times, more than any other player, and he has no sympathy for Gilbert\u2019s point of view.<\/p>\n On how he would respond to the opinion<\/a>, the Whirlwind told Metro<\/strong>: \u2018Get a life! Listen, this is why we\u2019re here. Why not? <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a World Championship, the World Seniors. I don\u2019t know why people would say that. It don\u2019t make any sense.\u2019<\/p>\n Ken Doherty has been to two World Seniors finals, and along with White is playing in this year\u2019s tournament again.<\/p>\n \t\t The Darlin of Dublin<\/a> does understand where Gilbert is coming from but still feels the Crucible can host the Seniors as well as the elite professionals.<\/p>\n Not least because it allows fans to experience the theatre who could not get hold of tickets or possibly could not afford the ones on sale at the World Championship.<\/p>\n \u2018I know what he means, but listen, why not?\u2019 Doherty told Metro<\/strong>. \u2018I know it\u2019s the home of the World Championship, but it can be the home of the World Seniors Championship as well.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a special event, so why not? It\u2019s hard to get tickets for the World Championship. It\u2019s a little bit easier for this, but still, there\u2019s been great crowds and the atmosphere is electric. No, I think it\u2019s a great idea to have it here.\u2019<\/p>\n White opened his Seniors campaign with a win over Daniel Ward on Thursday afternoon, saying ahead of the match of a return to the Crucible: \u2018I\u2019m absolutely buzzing.<\/p>\n \u2018This is why you play. The Seniors is a big event for us because the winner gets in the Champion of Champions. <\/p>\n \u2018Also, you\u2019re playing in the Crucible Theatre. You know, I\u2019m so lucky to still be playing.\u2019<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FB-MAIN-8adc.png\")
\n\t\tPhil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade<\/p>\n![\"Halo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2272026587.jpg\")
\n\t\tDave Gilbert feels the Crucible should be set apart in snooker (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"2023](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-1488259590.jpg\")
\n\t\tJimmy White is a four-time World Seniors champion (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"World](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2209853910.jpg\")
\n\t\tKen Doherty is bidding for a first World Seniors title (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Why is Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan playing in the World Seniors Snooker Championship?<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Ding Junhui sends \u2018our time\u2019 message as China\u2019s Wu Yize reigns at the Crucible<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Shaun Murphy has message for UK snooker hopefuls as rise of China accelerates<\/a><\/p>\n