Snooker Shoot Out

Single frame snooker competition was a staple of early televised coverage of the sport, and largely responsible for bringing the game to the mainstream of British sport, primarily through the BBC's popular Pot Black programme. Extended televised coverage of longer professional tournaments, however, had caused the format to become jaded, with the last Pot Black tournament taking place in 2007.

A similar event known as Shoot-Out was first held in September 1990, when, except in the final, all matches were decided over a single frame. With the demise of Pot Black, the event returned in 2011 with several innovations, and was renamed to Snooker Shoot Out.{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=One Frame Shoot-Out |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Shootout.html |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418005317/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Shootout.html}} It was sponsored by CaesarsCasino.com.{{cite web |title=Caesarscasino.com sponsors Snooker Shoot-out |url=http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Snooker/Caesarscasino-com-sponsors-Snooker-Shoot-out-201101230033/ |website=crunchsports.com |date=23 January 2011 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227063753/http://www.crunchsports.com/category/snooker/caesarscasino-com-sponsors-snooker-shoot-out-201101230033/ |url-status=dead}}

It was a one-frame shoot-out with a random draw, where the winner is given £32,000. The top 64 players in the world rankings contested the tournament, which was shown on Sky Sports and ITV4. The 2011 event was the first time that Sky Sports had shown a World Snooker Tour event live since 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/world_seniors_news(Sky_To_Televise_World_Seniors_Championship)-2463.htm?tid=170 |title=Sky To Televise World Seniors Championship |website=World Snooker Tour |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=3 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103184006/http://www.worldsnooker.com/world_seniors_news(Sky_To_Televise_World_Seniors_Championship)-2463.htm?tid=170}} From 2011 to 2015 the event took place at the Circus Arena in Blackpool. The event was sponsored by PartyPoker.com in 2012,{{cite web |title=Partypoker.com Sponsor Shoot-Out |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2589217,00.html |website=World Snooker Tour |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=28 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128215144/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2589217,00.html}} by Betfair in 2013,{{cite web |title=Betfair Backing Shoot-Out |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/SnookerShootOutArticle/0,,13165~2857672,00.html |website=World Snooker Tour |date=23 July 2012 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=23 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123094253/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/SnookerShootOutArticle/0,,13165~2857672,00.html}} by 888casino in 2014,{{cite web |title=Shoot-Out to Be Sponsored by 888casino.com |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3504735,00.html |website=World Snooker Tour |date=21 October 2013 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021200235/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3504735,00.html}} and by Betway in 2015.{{cite web |title=Betway to Sponsor Shoot-Out and Seniors |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4516470,00.html |website=World Snooker Tour |date=25 February 2015 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227014459/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4516470,00.html}} The tournament was held at the Hexagon in Reading for 2016.{{cite web |title=Reading To Host Snooker Shoot-Out |url=https://wst.tv/reading-to-host-snooker-shoot-out/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=9 November 2015 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129123721/https://wst.tv/reading-to-host-snooker-shoot-out/}} From 2016 to 2018, the tournament was broadcast by ITV and was sponsored by Coral.{{Cite web |title=ITV4 to Televise Snooker Shoot-Out |url=https://wst.tv/itv4-to-televise-snooker-shoot-out/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=14 August 2015 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115152045/https://wst.tv/itv4-to-televise-snooker-shoot-out/}}{{cite web |title=Coral to Sponsor Snooker Shoot-Out |url=https://wst.tv/coral-to-sponsor-snooker-shoot-out/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203032653/https://wst.tv/coral-to-sponsor-snooker-shoot-out/}}{{cite web |title=Coral Extends Shoot Out Title Sponsorship |url=https://wst.tv/coral-extends-shoot-out-title-sponsorship/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=15 August 2016 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=30 January 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130013049/https://wst.tv/coral-extends-shoot-out-title-sponsorship/}}

In 2017, the tournament became a ranking event for the first time, open to all 128 professional players.{{cite web |title=Snooker Shoot Out Becomes Ranking Event |url=https://wst.tv/snooker-shoot-out-becomes-ranking-event/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405203054/https://wst.tv/snooker-shoot-out-becomes-ranking-event/}} At the end of the season, the players voted to keep it as a ranking event.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/players-vote-keep-shoot/ |title=Players Vote to Keep Shoot Out |website=World Snooker Tour |date=9 March 2017 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=12 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312151636/http://www.worldsnooker.com/players-vote-keep-shoot/}} From 2017 the tournament was staged at the Colosseum in Watford.{{cite web |title=Watford to Host Snooker Shoot Out |url=https://wst.tv/watford-to-host-snooker-shoot-out/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=30 September 2016 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202221344/https://wst.tv/watford-to-host-snooker-shoot-out/}}{{cite web |title=Snooker Shoot Out Returns to Watford |url=https://wst.tv/snooker-shoot-returns-watford/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=28 July 2017 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=24 September 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924221902/https://wst.tv/snooker-shoot-returns-watford/}} In 2018, the event agreed a long-term deal with Eurosport and Quest to broadcast the event in the United Kingdom until 2026, beginning with the 2019 Snooker Shoot Out.{{cite web |title=Snooker Shoot Out Here to Stay as Eurosport and Quest Agree to Take Over as Host Broadcaster |url=https://wst.tv/snooker-shoot-stay-eurosport-quest-agree-take-host-broadcaster/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=30 April 2018 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414171446/https://wst.tv/snooker-shoot-stay-eurosport-quest-agree-take-host-broadcaster/}}

In January 2023, Reanne Evans became the first female winner of a Snooker Shoot Out match as well as the first woman to win a televised match at a ranking event.{{cite news |last=van Wijk |first=Jim |url=https://news.yahoo.com/reanne-evans-becomes-first-woman-215323134.html |title=Reanne Evans becomes first woman to win Snooker Shoot Out match |work=Yahoo! News |date=26 January 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127044237/https://news.yahoo.com/reanne-evans-becomes-first-woman-215323134.html}} In December 2023, Shaun Murphy made the first ever Shoot Out maximum break in his first-round match against Bulcsú Révész.{{cite web |title=Murphy scores first ever Shoot Out 147 |url=https://wst.tv/murphy-scores-first-ever-shoot-out-147/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=7 December 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207184224/https://wst.tv/murphy-scores-first-ever-shoot-out-147/}}

The tournament returns to the Circus Arena in Blackpool for the 2025 edition, nearly a decade after the tournament left for other places in England.{{Cite web |last=Tour |first=World Snooker |date=2025-03-31 |title=Snooker Shoot Out Returns To Iconic Blackpool Tower Circus |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/march/31/snooker-shoot-out-returns-to-iconic-blackpool-tower-circus/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=World Snooker Tour |language=en}}

Rules by the WPBSA:{{cite web |title=Rules |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/WorldSnookerShoot-OutArticle/0,,13165~2270050,00.html |website=World Snooker Tour |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=9 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609123521/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/WorldSnookerShoot-OutArticle/0,,13165~2270050,00.html}}{{cite web |url=https://wst.tv/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Click-here-for-the-rules.pdf |title=Snooker Shoot Out Competition Rules |website=World Snooker Tour |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213015026/https://wst.tv/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Click-here-for-the-rules.pdf}}{{cite web |title=Official Rules |url=https://wpbsa.com/wp-content/uploads/Rulebook-Website-Updated-May-2022-2.pdf |publisher=WPBSA |date=31 May 2022 |access-date=6 December 2023 |archive-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322202555/https://wpbsa.com/wp-content/uploads/Rulebook-Website-Updated-May-2022-2.pdf}}{{rp|pp=42–46}}

• Every {{cuegloss|frame}} lasts a maximum of 10 minutes.
• There is a shot clock. For the first 5 minutes of the match, players have 15 seconds per shot, but for the last 5 minutes this is reduced to 10 seconds.{{cite web |title=Rules |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/SnookerShootOutArticle/0,,13165~2591265,00.html |website=World Snooker Tour |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=14 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414085058/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/SnookerShootOutArticle/0,,13165~2591265,00.html}} Prior to 2013, the shot clock was set at 20 seconds per shot for the first 5 minutes and 15 seconds for the last 5 minutes. Failure to strike the cue ball within the time allowed results in a minimum 5 points penalty or the value of the "{{cuegloss|ball-on}}", whichever is greater. Prior to 2018, it was always a 5 points penalty.{{cite web |title=Snooker Shoot Out 2018 Competition Rules |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Click-here-for-the-competition-rules.pdf |website=World Snooker Tour |date=19 December 2017 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=23 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072542/http://www.worldsnooker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Click-here-for-the-competition-rules.pdf}} In 2021, normal rules regarding foul points were used.
• Players must hit a {{Cuegloss|Cushion|cushion}} (with any ball) or pot a ball with every shot. Prior to 2013 either the {{Cuegloss|cue ball}} or the {{Cuegloss|object ball}} needed to hit a cushion. Failure to do so results in a minimum 5 points penalty or the value of the "ball-on", whichever is greater. Prior to 2018, it was always a 5 points penalty.
• All fouls result in {{Cuegloss|ball-in-hand}}.
• Players "{{Cuegloss|lag}}" for who {{Cuegloss|break|breaks off}}.
• In an event of a tie the {{Cuegloss|blue ball}} shoot-out determines the winner. The blue ball is placed on its spot and the cue ball can be placed anywhere within the {{cuegloss|D, the|"D"}}. The winner of the lag decides who goes first. The players make alternate attempts until one player has potted the blue more times than his or her opponent after taking the same number of shots. The blue must be potted directly, without touching a cushion other than the jaws of the intended pocket. This prevents a player from winning with a {{Cuegloss|fluke}}.

Total: 30

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• 147 {{ndash}} Shaun Murphy (2023){{cite web |title=Shaun Murphy v Bulcsu Revesz |url=https://scores.wst.tv/matches/e1c1c4fb-3407-44c8-96df-d6a51b6239e0 |website=World Snooker Tour |date=7 December 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210051505/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://scores.wst.tv/matches/e1c1c4fb-3407-44c8-96df-d6a51b6239e0}}
• 142 {{ndash}} Mark Allen (2021)
• 139 {{ndash}} Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (2019)
• 135, 116, 100 {{ndash}} Martin Gould (2012, 2015, 2019)
• 133 {{ndash}} Luca Brecel (2019)
• 133 {{ndash}} Thor Chuan Leong (2020)
• 132 {{ndash}} Ricky Walden (2019)
• 129, 113 {{ndash}} Ronnie O'Sullivan (2011)
• 127 {{ndash}} David Gilbert (2016)
• 125 {{ndash}} Mark Selby (2013)
• 123 {{ndash}} Hossein Vafaei (2022)
• 121 {{ndash}} Stephen Lee (2012)
• 120 {{ndash}} Tony Knowles (1990)
• 120 {{ndash}} Chang Bingyu (2020)
• 119 {{ndash}} Chris Wakelin (2023)
• 117 {{ndash}} Ali Carter (2023)
• 116 {{ndash}} Michael Holt (2023)
• 112 {{ndash}} Mark King (2011)
• 109 {{ndash}} Michael Georgiou (2018)
• 107 {{ndash}} Jak Jones (2020)
• 106, 101 {{ndash}} Xiao Guodong (2020, 2023)
• 106 {{ndash}} Alfie Burden (2011)
• 103 {{ndash}} Allan Taylor (2022)
• 102 {{ndash}} Mark Davis (2018)
• 101 {{ndash}} Ryan Day (2014)
• 101 {{ndash}} Kyren Wilson (2023)
• 101 {{ndash}} Zhou Yuelong (2024)

{{div col end}}

• Michael Holt has played (42) and won (30) the most matches in the tournament's history.
• Paul Davison has entered the tournament 7 times without winning a match.
• Robin Hull has the best winning record in terms of percentages, winning 87.5% of his matches (7 out of 8 played).
• When it comes to the winners trying to defend their title, as of the 2023 tournament, 5 of the winners have lost in the 1st round the year after winning the trophy; the best performance by a defending champion was by Barry Hawkins, who reached the quarter-final stage.
• Barry Pinches, Nigel Bond, Rod Lawler, and Ken Doherty all competed in the original event back in 1990, and also took part in the 2022 tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Matches/Index/14495/betvictor-shoot-out-2022|title=Matches | World Snooker Live Scores}}
• The highest break in Shoot Out history is 147 by Shaun Murphy in December 2023.
• The lowest aggregate score is 8, recorded when Elliot Slessor beat Mostafa Dorgham 7-1 in 2024; this match also holds the record for the lowest winning score of 7.
• Only one century break has been recorded in a final, by Chris Wakelin in 2023.
• As of 2024, no player has won a frame when requiring 'snookers'.

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{{Snooker Shoot Out}}

{{European Series}}

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Category:Snooker variants

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1990

Category:1990 establishments in England

Category:Snooker competitions in England

Category:Snooker ranking tournaments

Category:Snooker non-ranking competitions

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