BRAZIL is thought for its prime footballing icons of previous and current – with the likes of Pele and Ronaldinho.
Nonetheless, one such unlikely sporting star from Brazil, wowed the Crucible crowd over the weekend at snooker as Igor Figueiredo took to the stage on the UK’s iconic snooker venue.
The 46-year-old from Rio defeated the Irishman Ken Doherty 5 – 2 to scoop a maiden World title and to place Brazil firmly on the snooker map for that nation.
He had met Doherty earlier than within the UK Seniors Championship however misplaced out to Doherty.
The Brazilian has been knowledgeable on the principle tour on three separate events.
In commentary, the likes of John Virgo and co stated that Igor was enjoying higher than ever regardless of being relegated from the principle skilled tour.
1997 World Champion Ken Doherty was keen so as to add to his illustrious newbie {and professional} profession by scooping the World Seniors title – alongside along with his World Skilled title and his World Junior and World Novice titles.
Doherty began off the match in spectacular kind nevertheless it was Figueiredo who was the stronger of the 2 gamers within the best-of-9-frames thriller.
The World Seniors noticed some nice matches total, with Jimmy White as one of many favourites anticipated to elevate the trophy over the 4 days. White managed to scrape by way of his first spherical with Andrew Norman.
There was the humour and charisma of Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjaeng, and Tessa Davidson grew to become the primary lady to win a body on the Seniors occasion and placed on an excellent efficiency for the World Ladies’s Snooker tour showcasing the snookering expertise on supply on the tour.
The World Seniors Tour offers a wide range of gamers the chance to play competitively with these daring to dream of enjoying at iconic venues corresponding to The Crucible or at different most important venues throughout the UK and past.
Andrew Norman, an English Novice Finalist twice who made his debut on the Crucible, wrote on Fb after his slim loss to Jimmy White within the first spherical…
“My first ever probability to expertise enjoying at The Crucible and what a day it was.”
“Strolling out of the well-known tunnel and waving to the gang was an absolute pleasure and enjoying within the area felt surprisingly very and comfy if a little bit nervy however I dealt with it nicely although I admit my coronary heart was pounding and my grip hand was clammy to say the least.”
He added: “Being my first time, I by no means knew how I might play beneath the circumstances and the TV highlight however I anticipated just a few misses and rash photographs alongside the best way.
Figueredo’s win comes on the again of an excellent win for Kyren Wilson, and the 2 gamers are an excellent advert for the game as it’s a break from the norm of the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan et al frequently profitable.
Wilson has cemented his title as one of many main figures within the sport now having scooped a World title.
STAT FROM PROFESSIONAL SPORT…
Within the fourth quarter of 2023, there have been estimated to be round 11,000 skilled sports activities gamers in the UK, in contrast with 12,300 within the earlier quarter, in response to Statista.
Properly completed to everybody who competed at The Crucible this 12 months and good luck to these competing in QSchool this 12 months.
