AARON Canavan has continued to show remarkable longevity in the sport of snooker, enjoying a stunning run – which was ultimately stopped in the semi-final stage by the experienced Lee Walker – during event 3 of the Race to the Crucible series.
The series of nine televised showcase events throughout the season serve as qualifiers to earn a spot at the World Seniors Snooker Championship next April, a title which Canavan claimed in 2018.
The Caesarean proved relentless in the early rounds at The Crucible Club in Reading, comfortably dispatching Kevin Willsher and Dean Galbally 4-0 and 4-1 respectively.
He then had a real battle on his hands against Mark Vincent in the last 16, with his opponent leading 2-1 at one point, only for Canavan to react superbly to rattle off three frames in succession for victory.
Another routine 4-0 victory in the quarter-final followed, over Nigel Howe, before defeat in the semi-final.
Welshman Walker, who, like Canavan, is a former champion, was in no mood to be stopped, offering “very little” in the words of an upbeat Canavan.
“I was really happy with the way I played,” he said.
“Consistency is everything in this sport. It’s no good just knocking in the occasional high break.
“I think in the first three matches I had eight breaks over 50 and if you manage that, you’ll be very hard to beat.
“Lee was exemplary in the semi. He offered very little really.
“I didn’t get a chance, or even a shot at a chance. Great players can do that to you and credit to him because it was a great performance.”
Canavan, who has been a decorated player in the World Snooker Seniors realm since he entered the sphere in 2018, sits well inside the coveted 16 spots in the two-year rolling rankings, being in eighth position.
He is also in sixth spot in the yearly rankings, an incredible effort for someone who plays a fraction of the ranking events that his opponents do.
Following the qualifying events held across the season, the top two from each ranked list earn an automatic place into the grand final in Sheffield, while those who finish between third and tenth square off in the “Top 16 Shootout”, with a further place up for grabs.
“Since I started playing seniors snooker and got into the top 16, I have never dropped out of there,” he said.
“I think the lowest I went to was 15 when I was injured, but I’ve kept that consistency year after year.
“The format used to be that you had to win one of these tournaments to qualify, but now that it’s based off rankings, I think that’s a benefit to me.
“I am not able to get to many events, because of the cost, work and family commitments, so trying to win one of the few I’m able to play is a tall order.
“Once you have taken out the top two from both lists, and there will be duplicates, it looks like if you’re in the top 16 of those rankings, you’ll get a spot in the shootout.
“I really fancy my chances in there. Obviously the really strong and consistent players will qualify automatically, so once you take them away, I’d feel very confident of getting through who’s left.
“Snooker is a funny game at times and things can go wrong when you are dealing with the best players around.
“But I’ll be very confident of making it through.”
The standout local snooker player continues to put Jersey on the map for his sport, with the hope that the young Archie Greier, who is under Canavan’s expert eye, can pick up the mantle in years to come.
