Craig Steadman Wins First World Seniors Tour Event of 2026/27 Season
Craig Steadman has made the ideal start to the World Seniors Tour season, winning the first event of the 2026/27 campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Dean Galbally in the final at The Crucible Club in Reading, England.
The former professional, who earned a return to the World Snooker Tour at the end of last season via the WPBSA Q Tour Play-Offs, navigated a record field of 68 players across the weekend to take an early lead in the race to the Crucible Theatre — the ultimate prize on the seniors circuit.
Why the World Seniors Tour Matters
The World Seniors Tour, organised by Jason Francis, occupies a unique and important place in the snooker ecosystem. It provides a competitive platform for players who have dedicated their professional lives to the sport — men who spent years battling on the main tour, who have experienced the highs and lows of elite competition, and who still possess the skill, the desire, and the competitive fire to perform at a high level.
These are not exhibition matches played for nostalgia. The players on the seniors circuit are serious competitors who still want to win, still produce high-quality snooker, and still bring the kind of drama and tension that the sport thrives on. The seniors tour gives them the stage to do exactly that, without the relentless pressure of the main tour’s cut-throat survival battle.
Steadman’s Road to the Title
Steadman was one of three current WST professionals in the field, alongside former ranking event winner Ryan Day and 2021 World Seniors champion David Lilley — a star-studded entry that underlined the quality of competition on offer.
His journey through the draw was impressive from start to finish:
| Round | Opponent | Result | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 64 | Roshan Bappoo | 4-0 | Break of 112 |
| Last 32 | Gerard Greene | 4-1 | Beat last year’s four-time event winner |
| Quarter-final | Karl Ashmore | 4-1 | |
| Semi-final (1) | Stuart Watson | 4-0 | |
| Semi-final (2) | David Lilley | 4-2 | Breaks of 61, 51 and 78 |
| Final | Dean Galbally | 4-0 | Breaks of 77 and 83 |
The opening round whitewash of Bappoo set the tone, with Steadman’s 112 break serving notice of his intentions. That contribution was only surpassed over the weekend by Lilley (132) and James Brown (133) — proof that the standard of break-building on the seniors circuit remains genuinely impressive.
The semi-final victory over Lilley was arguably Steadman’s most significant win of the tournament. The 2021 World Seniors champion is a formidable opponent on any stage, but Steadman raced into a 2-0 lead with breaks of 61 and 51, and a composed 78 in the sixth frame sealed a 4-2 victory that was more convincing than the scoreline suggested.
The Final
Galbally, aged 42, had earned his place in the final with a semi-final victory over Daniel Ward — last season’s qualifier who had previously pulled off a stunning upset against former top-16 player Ryan Day. But the final belonged entirely to Steadman. An assured performance featuring breaks of 77 and 83 produced a comprehensive 4-0 victory and the first title of the campaign.
For Steadman, a semi-finalist at last year’s World Seniors Snooker Championship, this opening win represents a perfect launchpad for a season in which he will be targeting the biggest prize the seniors circuit has to offer — a place at the Crucible Theatre.
The Bigger Picture: Seniors Snooker’s Future
The World Seniors Tour continues to grow, though challenges remain. In recent seasons, almost all events have been staged in the UK — a contrast to the pre-pandemic era, when the circuit included stops in mainland Europe, notably Belgium and Germany. The return of international events would be a significant step forward for the tour’s profile and accessibility, and many within the seniors snooker community hope that those European stops will eventually be revived.
What is clear, however, is that the appetite for seniors snooker exists. A record field of 68 players at this opening event speaks to the depth of talent and enthusiasm on the circuit. These are players who have given their careers to snooker, who still have plenty to offer, and who deserve a competitive platform that recognises their contribution to the sport. The World Seniors Tour provides exactly that.
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