2024 Snooker Shoot Out

The 2024 Snooker Shoot Out (officially the 2024 9Club Snooker Shoot Out)[1] was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 4 to 7 December 2024 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, England. The tenth ranking event of the 2024‍–‍25 season, it was played under a variation of the standard rules of snooker, with every match contested over a single frame. The event was broadcast by Eurosport and Discovery+ in Europe and other broadcasters worldwide.

2024 9Club Snooker Shoot Out
Tournament information
Dates4–7 December 2024 (2024-12-04 – 2024-12-07)
VenueMattioli Arena
CityLeicester
CountryEngland
OrganisationWorld Snooker Tour
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£171,000
Winner's share£50,000
Highest break Zhou Yuelong (CHN) (101)
Final
Champion Tom Ford (ENG)
Runner-up Liam Graham (SCO)
Score31–28 (one frame)

Mark Allen was the defending champion, having defeated Cao Yupeng 65‍–‍4 in the previous final, becoming the first player in the history of the event to win the title while ranked within the world's top 16.[2][3] Allen was defeated by Si Jiahui in the second round.

Tom Ford won the tournament, defeating Liam Graham 31‍–‍28 in the final and capturing his maiden ranking title.[4][5] Zhou Yuelong made the highest break of the tournament, a 101, which was also the only century break of the event.

Tournament format

edit

The tournament was the sixteenth edition of the Snooker Shoot Out, first held as a non‑ranking event in 1990 before being revived in 2011 and since then having been held annually. It was promoted to a ranking event starting with the 2017 edition. It was the tenth ranking event of the 2024‍–‍25 season following the 2024 UK Championship and preceding the 2024 Scottish Open. The event was held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, England, from 4‍–‍7 December 2024.[6]

The tournament was played using a variation of the traditional snooker rules. The draw was randomised before each round. All matches were played over a single frame, each of which lasted up to 10 minutes. The event featured a variable shot clock; shots played in the first five minutes were allowed 15 seconds while the final five minutes had a 10‑second timer. The player who had the most points after the time ran out or after all balls had been pocketed (or after a foul on the final black), won the match. All foul shots awarded the opponent a ball in hand. Unlike traditional snooker, if a ball did not either hit a cushion or enter a pocket on every shot, it was a foul. Rather than a coin toss, a lag was used to choose which player breaks. In the event of a draw, each player received a shot at the blue ball. This is known as a "blue ball shootout". The player who potted the ball with the cue ball from inside the "D" and the blue ball on its spot with the opponent missing won the match.[7]: 42–46 

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association nominated the following eight amateur players to participate alongside the professionals:[8]

  • Vladislav Gradinari, reigning European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA) Under-16 Champion and Under-18 Finalist
  • Riley Powell, EBSA Under-16 Finalist
  • Sophie Nix, ranked first in the World Women's Snooker Under-21 list
  • Joel Connolly, Irish Under-21 Champion
  • Sion Stuart, Welsh Under-16 Champion
  • Daniel Boyes, English Under-18 Champion
  • Steven Wardropper, Scottish Under-16 Champion
  • Joe Shannon, Irish Under-16 Champion

Broadcasters

edit

The event was broadcast by Eurosport and Discovery+ in Europe (including the United Kingdom and Ireland); by the CBSA‑WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel, the CBSA‑WPBSA Academy Douyin and Huya Live in China; by Now TV in Hong Kong; by Astro SuperSport in Malaysia and Brunei; by True Sport in Thailand; by TAP in the Philippines; and by Sportcast in Taiwan. It was available from Matchroom Sport in all other territories.[9]

Prize fund

edit

The total prize fund for the event was £171,000 with the winner receiving £50,000. The breakdown of prize money is shown below:[10]

  • Winner: £50,000
  • Runner-up: £20,000
  • Semi-final: £8,000
  • Quarter-final: £4,000
  • Last 16: £2,000
  • Last 32: £1,000
  • Last 64: £500
  • Last 128: £250
  • Highest break: £5,000
  • Total: £171,000

Tournament draw

edit

All times in Greenwich Mean Time. Times for quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and final are approximate. Players in bold denote match winners.

Before the start of the tournament Ricky Walden, Barry Hawkins, and Ken Doherty withdrew. They were replaced by Gerard Greene, Sean O'Sullivan, and Kayden Brierley respectively.[11]

Round 1

edit

Match results as follows:[13][18]

4 December – 13:00

edit

4 December – 19:00

edit

5 December – 13:00

edit

5 December – 19:00

edit

Round 2

edit

Match results as follows:[19][22]

6 December – 13:00

edit

6 December – 19:00

edit

Round 3

edit

Match results as follows:[23][24]

7 December – 13:00

edit

Round 4

edit

Match results as follows:[12][6]

7 December – 19:00

edit

Quarter-finals

edit

Match results as follows:[12][6]

7 December – 21:00

edit

Semi-finals

edit

Match results as follows:[12][6]

7 December – 22:00

edit

Final

edit
Final: 1 frame. Referee: Ben Williams
Mattioli Arena, Leicester, England, 7 December 2024 – 22:30[4]
Liam Graham
  Scotland
28–31 Tom Ford
  England

High breaks

edit

Only one century break was made during the tournament.[25]

Breaks between 70 and 99

edit
  1. ^ David Gilbert made a break of 70 in round 1.[6]
  2. ^ Si Jiahui made a break of 78 in round 1.[6]
  3. ^ Zhang Anda made a break of 89 in round 1.[6]
  4. ^ Jamie Jones made a break of 84 in round 1.[6]
  5. ^ Robert Milkins made a break of 71 in round 2.[6]
  6. ^ David Gilbert made a break of 73 in round 2.[6]
  7. ^ Martin O'Donnell made a break of 83 in round 2.[6]
  8. ^ Huang Jiahao made a break of 73 in round 3.[6]
  9. ^ Mark Selby made a break of 90 in the quarter‑finals.[6]
  10. ^ Wu Yize made a break of 71 in the quarter‑finals.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ "9Club becomes lead partner of Snooker Shoot Out". World Snooker Tour. 22 November 2024. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Mark Allen: Northern Irishman becomes first top-16 player to win Shoot Out". BBC Sport. 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Ford holds nerve to win first ranking title". World Snooker Tour. 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Tearful Ford wins Shoot Out for first ranking title". BBC Sport. 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "9Club Shoot Out (2024)". snooker.org. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Official Rules" (PDF). WPBSA. 31 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  8. ^ "WPBSA nominations for Shoot Out". World Snooker Tour. 22 October 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  9. ^ "How to watch the 9Club Shoot Out". World Snooker Tour. 3 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  10. ^ "9Club Shoot Out". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "Trio withdraw from 9Club Shoot Out". World Snooker Tour. 3 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "9Club Shoot Out 2024 (matches)". World Snooker Tour. 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  13. ^ [12][6]
  14. ^ a b c "Allen wins eighth consecutive Shoot Out match". World Snooker Tour. 4 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "O'Connor lights up Leicester with late clearance". World Snooker Tour. 4 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Bai shines again with first TV win". World Snooker Tour. 5 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d "Robertson revels in Shoot Out return". World Snooker Tour. 5 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  18. ^ [14][15][16][17]
  19. ^ [12][6]
  20. ^ a b c "Higginson makes epic Shoot Out clearance". World Snooker Tour. 6 December 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "Gurbaxani thrives in 'crazy' atmosphere". World Snooker Tour. 6 December 2024. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  22. ^ [20][21]
  23. ^ [12][6]
  24. ^ a b c "Graham stuns Carter to reach last 16". World Snooker Tour. 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Century breaks: Shoot Out – 1". snookerinfo.co.uk. 7 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Kayden Brierley replaced Ken Doherty who withdrew.[11]
  2. ^ Sean O'Sullivan replaced Barry Hawkins who withdrew.[11]
  3. ^ Gerard Greene replaced Ricky Walden who withdrew.[11]
  4. ^ In the round 1 match between Elliot Slessor and Mostafa Dorgham, the 7‍–‍1 score was the lowest scoring match in the history of the tournament.[17]
  5. ^ Zhou Yuelong made a century break of 101 in round 2.[6]
  6. ^ Tom Ford beat Wu Yize in a sudden death blue ball shoot‑out in the semi‑finals, after the match frame finished level at 32‍–‍32. Ford potted his first blue but Wu missed his first.[4]
edit