Defending champion Lee Walker crashes out on opening day of World Seniors Snooker Championship

Lee Walker saw his title defence ended on the first day of the World Seniors Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The Welsh professional lifted the trophy with a 5-4 final victory over Jimmy White a year ago, but departed the 2023 event at the last-16 stage in a 3-1 defeat to evergreen Northern Irishman Gerard Greene on Wednesday.

Ad Walker – who is focused on coaching after retiring from the main circuit last year – opened with a break of 52, but lost the next three frames with 2007 Grand Prix semi-finalist Greene moving onto a quarter-final match against Peter Lines or Ben Hancorn on Saturday afternoon. World Championship'An amazing tournament' — White reflects on incredible World Snooker Championship7 HOURS AGO Walker, who made the World Championship quarter-finals in 1997, enjoyed victories over defending champion David Lilley, Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry and Tony Knowles during his run to the title that saw him qualify for the Champion of Champions tournament in November.

But he will take no further part in the £50,000 16-man event. Former Crucible semi-finalist Knowles faces 2018 English Open finalist Mark Davis in the other match on Wednesday.

Seven-time world champion Hendry begins his campaign against three-time World Seniors finalist Darren Morgan on Friday with White meeting Philip Williams later in the evening. World Seniors Snooker Championship 2023: Latest scores and results, schedule, order of play How irrepressible force of nature Brecel struck oil at Crucible ‘It’s a huge compliment’ – Brecel flattered by Higgins comparisons The event is being played a few days after Luca Brecel beat Mark Selby to win the World Championship.