Peter Bainbridge, a true visionary of the snooker world, has passed away at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy of creative innovation, deep passion for the sport, and a lifelong commitment to expanding snooker’s reach and influence

Snooker visionary Peter Bainbridge has passed away at the age of 79.

 

 

Peter Bainbridge, a true visionary of the snooker world, has passed away at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy of creative innovation, deep passion for the sport, and a lifelong commitment to expanding snooker’s reach and influence. His death was announced on 2 January 2026, prompting tributes from players, administrators and fans alike who recognised him as one of the sport’s most forward-thinking figures.

Born in the mid-20th century, Bainbridge’s interests reached far beyond the baize from an early age. Although his professional background was rooted in business and entrepreneurship, it was snooker that captured his heart. His involvement in the sport was defined not by personal fame at the table, but by his unrivalled ability to envision new ways for snooker to grow, evolve and thrive both commercially and culturally.

One of Bainbridge’s most significant contributions was the creation of the World Seniors Masters, first staged at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in London. At a time when former champions were often left behind by the sport’s rapid evolution, Bainbridge recognised the value of celebrating and preserving their careers. His concept provided a competitive platform for veteran players and quickly became a cherished event on the snooker calendar, with the inaugural title won by the late Willie Thorne in 2000. The event’s trophy has since become a fixture at the World Seniors Snooker Championship held annually at the Crucible in Sheffield.

Bainbridge also played a key role in reviving Pot Black, the iconic snooker television series that helped popularise the sport in the 1970s and ’80s. His 2005–2006 staging of Pot Black at the RAC brought renewed interest to the format, reminding a new generation of fans of snooker’s blend of skill, drama and broadcast appeal.

A prolific thinker and strategist, Bainbridge’s ideas helped shape the modern commercial structure of professional snooker. During the early 2000s, he proposed extensive reforms to the organisation and commercial arrangements of the sport—ideas that were ahead of their time and have since influenced the way snooker is marketed and managed today. Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), described Bainbridge as “born years before his time,” praising both his intellect and entrepreneurial spirit.

Beyond events and organisational strategy, Bainbridge’s humanitarian instincts found expression in his support for snooker development overseas. In 2016, with backing from the WPBSA, he arranged for his antique snooker table to be shipped from London to Chennai, India, where it was placed in a government high school in the coastal village of Kovalam. The initiative, undertaken with The Venkat Trust, helped introduce the sport to an area affected by economic hardship and provided students with opportunities to compete at national and international levels.

In recognition of his contributions, the snooker room at the Kovalam school was renamed The Peter Bainbridge Snooker Room—a tribute to the transformative impact of his vision.

Peter Bainbridge will be remembered not only for the events he created and the ideas he championed but for his generosity, infectious enthusiasm and unwavering belief in the power of sport to inspire. His passing is a significant loss to the snooker community, and his influence will endure for generations to come.