World Seniors Snooker 900 LIVE RESULTS: Igor Figueiredo BEATS Jimmy White in thrilling final to claim title – updates

Fans love 'passionate' Seniors!

Fans gave a resounding thumbs-up to the World Seniors Snooker 900.

They hailed the mix of fast pace, big names and nostalgia.

And despite Igor Figueiredo beating home favourite Jimmy White in the final, the Brazilian, Brazil's Igor Figueiredo was a popular winner in front of a full house.

One fan posted: "A rainy afternoon in Hull for the 900. The crowd is massive. Saudi may have the money but the passion was non existent.";

Another wrote: "Loving the Snooker 900 tournament on Ch 5. Exciting, entertaining and enjoyable All the old players I grew up with too."

A third added: "Watching the seniors snooker 900, it's great!"

As for Figueiredo, he underlined the enjoyment that endeared him to spectators with his reaction to clinching a 2-1 win over White in the final.

He yelled, "Come on!" and said afterwards: "Really I think it was a fantastic final."

900 and NOT out for unlucky Jimmy

Jimmy White has an unmatched record in World Seniors Snooker.

But it's now three times unlucky in the 900.

However, the 62-year-old confirmed his determination to carry on at this level.

The Whirlwind blamed a "terrible shot" in a final-frame thriller and admitted to a hint of nerves as he was pipped 2-1 by Igor Figueiredo.

White's 69 break took him the opener but the Brazilian responded with a frame-winning 62 to level at 1-1.

And Figueiredo's two tidy breaks in the third and last frame nicked a thrilling win.

But White insisted he still loves life on the Seniors tour - with much, possibly much more, to come.

Now White has a shot at legend Williams

Jimmy White will follow up his Snooker 900 final anguish by taking on a fellow legend.

The Whirlwind will meet three-time world champ mark Williams in a "Clash of the Titans" at The Anvil in Basingstoke on October15.

Fellow snooker icon Dennis Taylor will be the referee.

 It's just too Cruci-small!

Maltese snooker great Tony Drago explained the one big - or small - reason he fears the Crucible will lose the world final.

That's apart from the huge possible riches at stake for switching to, for example, Saudi Arabia.

Drago said: "The Crucible is a great venue but it is a bit too small.

"If there’s 900 watching, there’s 1800 left out. You have to look at it both ways. 

"The home of snooker, yes - I love to see it in Sheffield. 

"But the World Championship deserves to be played in front of 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 people."

Drago reckons Crucible will lose world final

Snooker 900 star Tony Drago reckons the Crucible will lose the sport's main World Championship - for a £1MILLION jackpot i Saudi Arabia.

Drago failed to reach the final of today's popular senior event.

But he believes younger stars will see snooker's top event lose its traditional home.

He said: "I think they’ll be playing a World Championship with £1m first prize in Saudi Arabia in the next few years.

"I don’t like to see it because I love the Crucible, but then again I don’t blame the players.

"It will be very sad. There’s some players who don’t need the money, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan, they’ve got all the money in the world.

"But if they’ve only got another three or four years playing, why not play for a million quid first prize? I don’t blame them at all. But for me as a player and now a fan, I don’t like to see it leave the Crucible."

What's next on the Seniors' schedule?

After the success of today's extravaganza at the Connexin Live in Hull, Seniors snooker has one more event this month.

And in fact the tour are dominated by the "Back to the Crucible Series".

Event 2 in that schedule comes at Reading's Crucible Club over September 27-29.

And the same venue hosts the remaining events in the series over the season - right up to April 2025

'We deserve this spotlight'

Seniors Snooker deserves to be under a huge spotlight.

That's the verdict of Jimmy White and Co after the 900 wowed the Hull crowd and Channel 5 TV viewers, as well as becoming a hit online.

White came through from a group containing Tony Drago and Stephen Hendry.

Meanwhile, Igor Figueiredo progressed from the other section before pipping the Whirlwind in the final.

White insisted the coverage was just what Seniors snooker needed.

He said: "It's great (to be on national TV) and to see so many names come together from aroudn the world.

"We don't normally get to see some of them these days - Tony Drago, and Tony Knowles was here too."

White reveals fright!

Jimmy White claims he got spooked playing against the clock as well as Igor Figueiredo.

The World Seniors Snooker 900 event packed out its Hull venue with a hugely-responsive audience.

It's the mixture of sporting icons assembling from around the world - and the extra edge given by the time limits.

If a frame is not won the normal way after 15 minutes, then whoever is leading at that stage takes it.

In the end, the clock was not a factor in the final - as Figueiredo came back from a frame down and a sizeable deficit in the decider to beat the Whirlwind 2-1.

But White claimed the awareness of the clock could be off-putting mentally - calling it a "bit nerve-racking".

'Gutted' White so frustrated

Jimmy White blurted out his final-frame frustration after Igor Figueiredo's comeback victory.

The Whirlwind chose a tricky yellow and missed a gettable pot before his Brazilian rival returned to the table to nick the last frame with a flawless clearance of 48.

Questioned on Channel 5 afterwards, White launched into a stream of regret over his errors - calling one "terrible".

But he then revealed that's what snooker-against-the-clock is "all about" - match-turning moments in a blink.

Rio's grand star

Here's the moment Igor Figueiredo lifted the 900 trophy after a dramatic 2-1 win over Jimmy White.

The Rio de Janeiro star has been a big name on the Seniors tour since 2018.

He was runner-up to Ken Doherty in the UK Seniors Championship that year.

But he seems to have hit his peak this year - at least results wise.

He defeated Doherty 5-2 in the final of the World Seniors.

Now he's beaten another legend in White.

Figueiredo worried he'll lose his edge

Igor Figueiredo picked up another Seniors title - but joked he is worried how long he can carry on.

The Brazilian is 16 years younger than beaten finalist Jimmy White, 62.

But Figueiredo said: "I'm 46 now - I don't know how long I can still play OK.

"But I hope I'm remembered in the future!"

Igor 'over the moon!'

Igor Figueiredo claimed "I'm over the moon!" after adding the 900 title to his World Seniors Crown.

He even reckoned the fanatical Hull crowd treat the players like "the Rolling Stones"!

Figueiredo said: ";Two fantastic players - I needed to produce magic!

"I don't know what happened - I need to see it again!"

Result: White 1-2 Figueiredo

White will be kicking himself - but it was an epic final.

He said: "'I'm gutted, I played a terrible shot.

"But this is what it's all about - fair play to him.

"It's nice to see a lot of the players from around we don't often see.

"But it's a bit nerve-racking - against the clock!"

Figueiredo wins a thriller!

Figueiredo thumps the air and yells "Come on!" after a clearance of 48 gives him the title.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

Now Figueiredo is brilliantly placed.

He's bagged two as he took his break into the 30s.

And he looks well placed for a final-winning clearance.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

White compiled 40 - but then failed to set up a red.

He instead opted for safety, leaving him 52-13 up.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

For the first time in the frame, the balls look inviting for a BIG break.

White is into his 30s now - with the reds now looking well placed.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

White is in again - he's pouched two crisp reds so far to take the lead.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

Figueiredo couldn't make the most of his opportunity, but leads 13-12 with a little more than eight of the 15 minutes remaining.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

White missed a presentable red, meaning a break of just 12.

Now it's Figueiredo who has a challenging chance of a frame-shaping break.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

Figueiredo snookered White - who was relieved to see the reds land safe after he hit the pack.

And instead it was his Brazilian rival who produced a slack shot - leaving a red open for the middle pocket, a chance White took.

Now the Whirlwind is sniffing a half-decent break - but with much work to do.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

Figueiredo nicked a red but otherwise it's been caution first in this deciding frame.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

Both players have looked a little edgy.

But Figueiredo has been the steadier.

White had one glorious chance to win the frame - missing a highly-gettable pot when he was on 22.

But he then had to sit it out.

Now we're into the final frame.

White 1-1 Figueiredo

Figueiredo levelled in excllent style - with a 43 clearance.

White 1-0 Figueiredo

White had to settle for a break of 22.

And Figueiredo returned to build a break that will surely level the final - and so take it to a decider.