The Snooker Legends was created in 2009 by Jason Francis at Premier Stage Productions to stage events for retired and current snooker players to play exhibition matches once again in some of Snooker’s most iconic venues. In 2017, Snooker Legends promoted and held its first professional event, the 2017 World Seniors Championship. Later in 2017, they created the World Seniors Tour for players aged 40 and above. This tour consisted of four non-ranking events in the 2017/2018 season. They introduced an invitational event in the 2021/2022 season. In early 2022 The ‘Merseyside Masters’ was staged in Liverpool.
The first event was on 8 April 2010 and saw Jimmy White, Cliff Thorburn, John Parrott, John Virgo, Michaela Tabb, and Alex Higgins return to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The event is best remembered as the last time Alex Higgins played snooker as he died in July that year. Dennis Taylor replaced Alex, and the tour also featured guest appearances by Ray Reardon, Tony Knowles and Ken Doherty. The tour’s highlight was a maximum 147 break-in Redhill by Jimmy White.
In 2011, a further 30 events were held, and Ronnie O’Sullivan, Kirk Stevens, Doug Mountjoy, Tony Drago joined the team. In Dundalk, Jimmy White again had a maximum break. However, this was from the break off without his opponent ever having a shot.
In 2012, events saw Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry join the team. ‘The Legends Cup’ was staged in Bedworth where a team from England and Northern Ireland beat a team from The Rest of the World 18–16.
In 2012 Snooker Legends staged a series of 7 events between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White. In the first match in Croydon, Ronnie made a maximum 147 break, the 3rd perfect break since the tour began.
In 2013, there were 12 events held on the Snooker Legends tour. This included the Legends Cup which was again staged in Bedworth on 10–12 May, and coverage was broadcast live on Eurosport. The teams were England and Northern Ireland vs The Rest of the World, with Dennis Taylor and Cliff Thorburn as respective captains. The Rest of the World won 18–14.
Other events in the same year included the additions of Mark Williams and Joe Johnson to the tour. The format was changed to include doubles matches and single matches and involved a colour clearance time challenge in which two teams of doubles cleared only the colours as quickly as they could, alternating shots. The exhibitions also gave members of the audience a chance to play a doubles match with the professional players.
