Tony Knowles, Anthony Hamilton and Alfie Burden set to join frantic scramble for places on main circuit at Q School in Leicester
Published 20/05/2025 at 22:37 GMT+1
Former world No. 2 Tony Knowles is bidding to turn back the clock at the age of 69 as he enters Q School in Leicester on Wednesday morning, attempting to win six straight matches to earn a two-year tour card on the main professional circuit. He is set to be joined by fellow evergreen potters Anthony Hamilton, Peter Lines and new world seniors champion Alfie Burden, with eight spots up for grabs.
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The annual scramble to earn a place on the main World Snooker Tour circuit will get underway in Leicester on Wednesday with three-time Crucible semi-finalist Tony Knowles among a lengthy field of hopefuls.
The 69-year-old is up against William Lemons at 09:00 UK time in his tournament opener in the first round, needing to win six matches to make his return to the professional promised land after dropping off the tour in 2001.
Knowles famously defeated defending champion 10-1 Steve Davis in the first round of the World Championship in 1982, but never reached the final, losing in the last four in 1983, 1985 and 1986.
Alfie Burden, who defeated 2018 winner Aaron Canavan 8-4 to lift the World Seniors title in May, will begin his campaign against fellow Englishman Robert Read in the second round on Friday afternoon.
Burden was forced to head back to qualifying after ending last season as world No. 79.
Meanwhile, former German Masters champion Anthony Hamilton, who has been on the main tour since 1991, will aim to make a rapid return - after finishing the season ranked at No. 69 - when he begins his qualifying campaign in the round of 128 on Friday night.
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Stuart Carrington, David Grace, Alexander Ursenbacher, Peter Lines, Barry Pinches and Gerard Greene are some of the other figures bidding to reclaim some of their old magic in the race for a spot back among the sport's elite.
Eight tour cards are available for the semi-finalists at Leicester's Mattioli Arena with event one running until Monday before event two begins on Tuesday and finishes on Sunday, June 1.
Four cards are also on the line at the Asia-Oceania Q School event one in Bangkok, with Chatchapong Nasa of Thailand and China's Liu Wenwei claiming the first two on Sunday.
Nasa completed a 4-0 win over Liu Linhao, while Liu Wenwei edged compatriot Luo Zetao 4-3 to secure his card for the next two seasons.
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