I will be the Judge of that!

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Michael Judge will be remembered by most snooker fans as a prolific player on the main tour in the 1990s. A professional player from 1992-2011, Judge’s best performance was in the 2004 Grand Prix when he reached the semi-final and had some success in the World Championship, the best being in 2001 when he knocked out Jimmy White in the qualifiers and John Parrott in the first round before being beaten by Ken Doherty. With his highest ranking being 24 in the 2002/3 season, Michael earned £472,438 on the professional circuit, made 66 century breaks and had his highest in the 2004 European Open when he made a 144 break. Hailing from the Republic of Ireland, Judge has won the Irish Amateur Championship twice in 2013 and 2018 and attempted to get back on the tour in 2018 via the infamous Q School.

Since leaving the snooker main stage, Judge’s career has been given a second wind with an invitation to join the World Seniors tour. Created by Jason Francis, the tour with the backing of World Snooker gives former professional players, the chance to compete again in a format very similar to its professional partner. This is a golden opportunity for snooker lovers to see their heroes of snooker compete again with the likes of Tony Drago, Stephen Hendry, Joe Johnson, Cliff Thorburn and Jimmy White to name but a few, to battle it out for multiple Senior titles. Jimmy White has been the most successful player to achieve but Michael Judge is rapidly snapping at Whites’ heels with a tremendous victory against Jimmy in the recent UK Seniors Championship where he beat White, 4-2. Now ranked number one on the tour, Judge has once again become a formidable force and looks certain to be contention for the Senior Irish Masters when it is played at Goffs next March.

Following his Senior’s victory, Michael has also been recognised by the now snooker sponsor, Chamberlain who make high quality Swiss timepieces. He was recently presented with a watch for his efforts and a 142 break in the tournament, this is a man who constantly wears a smile thanks to his success. I am thoroughly delighted to see Michael do well again and am a keen supporter of World Seniors, having even worked behind the scenes helping Jason Francis with writing the promotional advertising for the last World Seniors event at the Crucible won by Jimmy White. Inspiration is vital in our sport and gone had the time when a player has to hang up his cue for good. Now these snooker heroes like Michael Judge can compete and experience the snooker centre stage once more. A brilliant concept and even better now it is a firm reality.

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