Steadman Whitewashes Galbally to Claim Season-Opening World Seniors Title
A Record Field, a Familiar Stage — and One Man Standing Tall
The Crucible Club in Reading might not carry the same weight of silence as its famous Sheffield namesake, but for the players chasing a place at the World Seniors Snooker Championship, every frame played there matters enormously. On a sun-baked August weekend, it was Craig Steadman who emerged from the largest field in World Seniors Tour history — a record 68 players — to lift the first title of the 2026/27 campaign, defeating Dean Galbally 4-0 in a final that was every bit as commanding as the scoreline suggests.
For Steadman, it was a result that carried particular resonance. Having secured his return to the professional ranks via the WPBSA Q Tour Play-Offs at the end of last season, the Lancashire cueman arrived in Reading with a point to prove and left having made the strongest possible statement. A semi-final run at last season's World Seniors Championship had already hinted at what he was capable of on this circuit. Now, with a winner's trophy to his name, that potential looks very much like the real thing.
Navigating a Star-Studded Draw
With Ryan Day — a former ranking event winner on the main tour — and 2021 World Seniors champion David Lilley also in the field, Steadman was far from the outstanding favourite. Three current World Snooker Tour players in the same seniors draw is unusual, and it gave the weekend the feel of something between a reunion and a reckoning.
Steadman's route to the title was built on consistency rather than fireworks, though he was far from shy at the table. He opened with a 4-0 whitewash of Roshan Bappoo, punctuated by a break of 112 — the highest contribution of his own weekend, bettered across the event only by Lilley's 132 and James Brown's impressive 133. A 4-1 win over Gerard Greene followed, a result that deserves particular attention given Greene's record: the man had won the event four times across the previous season alone. Steadman beat him without fuss.
Further victories over Karl Ashmore (4-1) and Stuart Watson (4-0) set up what many had anticipated — a semi-final meeting with Lilley. It was the kind of match that could have gone either way, yet Steadman settled any nerves quickly. Breaks of 61 and 51 put him two frames ahead before a visit of 78 in the sixth frame sealed a 4-2 victory and confirmed his place in the final.
Galbally Falls Short as Steadman Closes It Out
Awaiting him in the title match was Dean Galbally, 42, who had written his own compelling story through the draw. The highlight of Galbally's run had come in the semi-final, where his opponent Daniel Ward had earlier knocked out Ryan Day — himself a former top-16 player on the main tour. It made for a final that felt earned on both sides of the table.
But the day belonged to Steadman. He was measured, precise, and in control throughout the final, compiling breaks of 77 and 83 to build a lead Galbally could never seriously threaten. The 4-0 scoreline was a mirror of Steadman's opening match — a full circle of dominance that bookended a near-flawless weekend's work.
Martin Claims Super Seniors Glory in a Dramatic Decider
While Steadman was the headline act, there was also silverware on offer in the Super Seniors event — for players aged 55 and over — where a record 29 entries added genuine weight to the competition. Wayne Martin took the title after a testing route through the draw, navigating wins over William Cornish, Dean Powell, Tony Morgan and Neil Carroll before facing Dean Sycamore in the final.
Sycamore took the opening frame on the black in dramatic fashion, but Martin — composed under pressure — forced a deciding third. Breaks of 30 and 42 in the final frame were enough to clinch a 2-1 victory and the second Super Seniors title of his career. It was the kind of quiet determination that doesn't always make the back pages but deserves its moment nonetheless.
The Race to Sheffield Begins in Earnest
One event down, the race to the Crucible Theatre is already taking shape — and Craig Steadman has made sure his name is at the top of the leaderboard. Event two of the World Seniors Tour takes place at The Crucible Club in Reading across 25–27 September, with entries open now via WPBSA SnookerScores. The field may grow, the competition will stiffen, but after a weekend like this, Steadman will travel to every future event with the confidence of a champion.
