Ronnie O'Sullivan reached the World Seniors final after a 7-5 win, while organisers scrambled to fix a damaged table and moved one tie to a backstage practice table
The over-40s tournament at the Crucible produced a mix of high-quality play and organisational headaches as Ronnie O’Sullivan edged past Robert Milkins 7-5 to book a place in the final. In front of a packed house, the seven-time world champion served up flashes of brilliance amid a match that many described as scrappy because of testing surface conditions.
O’Sullivan himself said the players were dealing with unusually hard conditions and that everyone was doing their best to adapt.
Behind the scenes the event suffered a significant disruption when one of the main match tables was judged unplayable after a slate underneath shifted.
That necessitated moving an ongoing contest and later relocating another scheduled tie to a backstage practice table, a decision that denied the defending champion the chance to play in front of the full Crucible audience.
How the match unfolded under difficult conditions
On the table, O’Sullivan and Milkins battled through frames where positional shots became harder to control and long runs were more difficult to build. The scoreboard finished 7-5 in O’Sullivan’s favour, but the scoreline reflected a match punctuated by occasional lapses as well as moments of masterful shot-making. O’Sullivan acknowledged he was experimenting with different cue techniques, calling the contest valuable practice while conceding he was not especially impressed with many of his own shots despite the crowd’s enthusiasm. The atmosphere, however, remained electric as the local theatre stayed filled for the later stages of the event.
Table problems and the scramble to keep the schedule on track
Organisers were confronted with a major logistical challenge when a table slate drop rendered one of the two match tables uneven and unsafe for competitive play. A match that had been underway on the damaged surface was halted and later completed on the remaining match table, but scheduling constraints meant another tie had to be shifted away from public view. The relocated match — between the defending champion and his opponent — was played on a backstage practice table, where the visitor recorded a 4-0 whitewash. That result left the defending champion unable to defend the title in front of a capacity Crucible audience.
What caused the failure and why tables need time
The event’s head of operations explained that the problem came from a major joint and slate movement, something that cannot be repaired instantaneously. He noted that the team had been given limited access time to install four tables and that even with veteran fitters on site, a newly set-up table requires time to settle into a playing surface. Organisers also pointed to a well-known quirk of the venue: the theatre floor is not solid and contains voids beneath the stage, which can complicate table stability. While that context does not erase the impact on the players, it helps explain why the issue emerged.
Apologies and accountability from the World Seniors leadership
The tournament director issued a direct apology to the players affected and said letters had been sent to those forced to move to the backstage area. He accepted responsibility for the disruption and pledged to learn from the episode, stressing that the team had worked through the night and that experienced fitters were involved. At the same time, he rejected social-media criticism from a former competitor, calling the comments bitter and challenging critics to return to competition if they believe they could do better.
Reactions in the arena and what happens next
Players and spectators reacted with a mix of frustration and understanding. Some competitors described the playing conditions as tough but insisted they would not use them as an excuse. O’Sullivan was self-effacing about his performance, downplaying the crowd’s praise for certain shots and saying he expected higher standards from himself. Meanwhile, the player who benefited from the switch to the practice area recorded a comprehensive victory, ending the defending champion’s hopes of fighting back on the main stage.
Looking forward to the final
O’Sullivan will face the winner of the remaining semi-final between Craig Steadman and Joe Perry in the tournament final, a best-of-19 contest that will be shown live on Channel 5. Organisers have promised to review the events and improve preparations to avoid a repeat. For now, the focus returns to the table as competitors prepare to contest the title while the venue team addresses the technical issues that interrupted what started as a celebratory weekend at the Crucible.
