1 week Ago By Elliot Corbel
Jersey’s snooker sensation, Aaron Canavan, will head to The Crucible in May for the World Senior Championships, ranked at number 1 Picture: ROB CURRIE" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/jerseyeveningpost.
com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/aaron-canavan-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.
com/jerseyeveningpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/aaron-canavan-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" />George Marriott reports.
..JERSEY’S snooker sensation Aaron Canavan heads into World Seniors Championships at the legendary Crucible in May as the official world number one ranked player.
Canavan, 49, is “more than ready” for the challenge ahead, having won the inaugural tournament back in 2018 beating 1985 World Snooker Champion, Dennis Taylor.The finals will be his sixth outing at the iconic Sheffield snooker venue which the Jerseyman described as a “dream come true.”After bursting onto the scene, winning the World Senior Championship in 2018, Canavan described the experience as “a moment that will live with me forever,” with 1980 World Snooker Champion, Cliff Thorburn welcoming him ‘to the club’.
Previously, the islander had a been a club player that “nobody knew”, but quickly became a recognisable face amongst the snooker scene.“I was walking into clubs in the UK to practice and people would recognise me, it gave me a lot to deal with mentally and I probably wasn’t ready for it at the time.”Island snooker player Aaron Canavan playing at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, in the last-16 of the 2020 ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championships vs Leo Fernandez.
Canavan won 4-3, with the game finishing after midnight Picture: ANDY CHUBB" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/jerseyeveningpost.
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jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" />Canavan- “I’m proof that if you are given the financial opportunity to do it, you’ll find some great results” Picture: ANDY CHUBBThe 49 year old balances his busy day job alongside preparing to face the world’s greatest snooker players.He spends over 35 hours a week practicing on the table, commenting: “the secret to being the best is practice, practice, practice. When you think you can’t practice anymore, practice some more.
“Nothing, and I mean nothing gets in the way of my preparation.”Canavan’s determination to carry on competing and winning stems from the lack of opportunities afforded him when he was younger.“My younger years are what has driven me to do this because I didn’t have the opportunity.
When I was 25 years old the opportunity to go pro didn’t arise, I always knew I was good enough but it’s so difficult living in Jersey, it was just impossible.“Now I’m taking every opportunity I can so I’m trying to see how good I could have been compared to the top guys, I’ve got it in my head that I was good enough and with what I’ve done already I’ve confirmed that.”He continued: “Being number one was a bucket list for me, I had a 147 maximum at the Crucible in 2021, it was in the practice room but I don’t care! I’m one of nine players ever in the world to have a maximum break inside those four walls.
”The costs of competing at the top level was something Canavan struggled with for years, with annual costs exceeding £10,000. But, thanks to the Jersey Sport Performance Programme, he is able to focus more on playing snooker. “It means I don’t have to work as much.
I was doing overtime when I was meant to be practicing and it meant I was going to tournaments tired. “I’m proof that if you are given the financial opportunity to do it, you’ll find some great results. I got the grant in January and all of a sudden within two months I’ve won three qualifying tournaments.
”This years Championship final may be Canavan’s best opportunity to emulate his success of 2018, with a change of rules for next seasons competition allowing any professional snooker player over the age of 40 to compete.The World Seniors number one is excited at the prospect of playing the very best in the world, jesting: ” I want to pull Ronnie O’ Sullivan first round at the Crucible, that would be something.”The islander is no stranger to beating the pros, after he dispatched the former world number two Jimmy White in Belfast, a player he was ‘in awe’ of at the time.
You can catch who Canavan will face in the final through the live draw on the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel Five tomorrow at 9:15am.The post Canavan goes to the Crucible as number 1 appeared first on Jersey Evening Post..
