Snooker Shoot Out

Snooker Shoot Out
Tournament information
VenueMorningside Arena
LocationLeicester
CountryEngland
Established1990
Organisation(s)World Snooker Tour
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£171,000
Recent edition2023
Current champion Mark Allen (NIR)

The Snooker Shoot Out is a professional snooker tournament played under a variation of the standard rules. Each match consists of one frame, played over a maximum of 10 minutes, with a shot clock in effect. First staged in 1990 as the Shoot-Out, the event was revived in 2011 and renamed the Snooker Shoot Out. Held from 2011 to 2016 as a non-ranking event with 64 competitors, it became a ranking event in 2017 for an expanded field of 128 players.[1]

The event is notable for its wildcard entrants, including young amateur players. Liam Davies first competed in 2019 when he was 12 years old, making him the youngest player to feature in a professional ranking event.[2] At the 2023 edition, 14-year-old Vladislav Gradinari became the youngest player to win a televised match at a ranking event, beating Ng On Yee in the first round, continuing his run by beating Pan American Snooker Champion Victor Sarkis, reaching last 32 before losing to Tom Ford[3] and Reanne Evans became the first female player to achieve the same feat.[4] The current champion is Mark Allen, who defeated Cao Yupeng in December 2023 to become the first top 16 player to win the Shoot Out.[5] Stuart Bingham, Mark Selby, and Mark Williams have also all reached finals.[6]

Unlike other major snooker tournaments, the audience does not remain silent during play, and the event has become known for its boisterous atmosphere.[7]

  1. ^ "2017 Coral Snooker Shoot Out - World Snooker". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  2. ^ Blainey, Gareth (31 August 2019). "Snooker player, 13, aims to turn pro". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Gradinari, 14, continues Snooker Shoot Out run". BBC Sport. 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Evans claims historic victory over Bingham". BBC Sport. 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Allen Wins Tenth Ranking Title With Shoot Out Success". World Snooker Tour. 9 December 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  6. ^ "How to watch 2023 Snooker Shoot Out, draw, schedule and live stream with Mark Allen, Mark Williams playing". Eurosport. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Wakelin wins Shoot Out for first ranking title". BBC Sport. 28 January 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.