Alfie Burden

Bio

Alfie Burden won the first ranking title of his career at the 2025 Snooker Shoot Out in Blackpool – more than 30 years after turning professional.

Aged 48, Burden made history by becoming only the second player competing under amateur status to win a ranking event title after receiving a last-minute place in the event as a top-up.

Victories over David Lilley, Ishpreet Singh Chada, Gary Wilson, Liam Highfield, Zachary Richardson and Noppon Saengkham earned Burden a place in the title match against former world champion Stuart Bingham – who he defeated 63-8 to secure his maiden ranking crown.

Having dropped off at the end of the 2024/25 season, the £50,000 top prize was enough to see Burden regain his place on the World Snooker Tour from the start of the 2026/27 season via the one-year list.

Prior to his brilliance in Blackpool, he had reached four ranking event quarter-finals at the 2016 China Open, 2016 European Masters, 2017 Gibraltar Open and 2018 Scottish Open. He made his sole appearance to date at the World Championship back in 1998, losing 10-8 to Tony Drago in the last 32 and compiled a maximum break against Daniel Wells at the 2016 English Open.

Earlier in 2025, Burden had defeated Jersey’s Aaron Canavan 8-4 to win the World Seniors Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. After previously reaching the final in 2023, the Londoner overcame Jimmy White, Tony Drago, Hassan Kerde and finally Canavan to win the title.

In 2009 he defeated Igor Figueiredo 10-8 to win the World Amateur Championship.

Off-Table

Prior to taking up snooker, Burden was a talented football player in his youth playing for both Arsenal and Swindon Town as a schoolboy, before a bad break to his leg ended his on-field career.

Career Honours

WST Ranking Event Titles (1)

• 2025/26: Snooker Shoot Out