World Championship 2022: Snooker set to say farewell to key remaining link to 1980s golden era

Nigel Bond is set to bring down the curtain on snooker's 33-year link back to the sport's 1980s golden era after suffering defeat in World Championship qualifying in Sheffield. '00-147' was the only professional on the circuit still playing on the World Snooker Tour without needing a wild card having turned professional in 1989, the same year Steve Davis lifted the last of his six world titles.

Ad/> The World No 76 – who lost 18-9 to Stephen Hendry in the 1995 world final – was drubbed 6-1 by Germany's Lukas Kleckers in the second round of qualifiers at the English Institute of Sport and is outside of the top 64 who will be guaranteed their tour status next season. World ChampionshipExclusive — 'I don't regard myself as greatest ever' — O'Sullivan wants 'others to decide'2 HOURS AGO Hendry and Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White are still playing on the main tour, but both green baize icons have been extended tour cards for services to the sport rather than securing places via recent tournament success.

/> The 56-year-old Bond recently said he plans to focus on coaching if he finishes outside the top 64 rather than head for Q School to try to regain his tour card after turning professional in the same year Margaret Thatcher was British Prime Minister and Ride on Time by Black Box was the biggest selling UK single of the year. The former world No 5 enjoyed a glorious run in reaching the 2019 UK Championship quarter-finals in York where he revelled in wins over Judd Trump (6-3), Luca Brecel (6-5) and Gary Wilson (6-5) before losing 6-5 to Mark Allen in the last eight.