George Weyham previews this week's Snooker Shoot Out and provides four betting tips for the event.
Snooker Shoot-Out
The UK Championship was a momentous event culminating with a fabulous final between Mark Selby and Judd Trump on Sunday evening.
This week’s Shoot-Out is like comparing night and day but I’m in no doubt there’s plenty more excitement on the horizon coming in Blackpool this week for the 16th edition since 2011.
The Tower Circus was the venue between 2011-2015 and this very unique setting plays host again with what’s sure to be a raucous crowd.
It’s no surprise there is yet to be a multiple winner of the event and Tom Ford returns as champion looking to do a minor miracle and retain. The best performance by a defending champion was via Barry Hawkins in 2013 (here in Blackpool) who made the quarter-final following his win in 2012.
Bar him, defending champions have a truly diabolical record in their defences, with six losing in the first round the year after winning, and nine losing in round two.
There are many critics of the event, saying it should never be a ranker (I’m in 100% agreement) however this tournament has the potential of changing players lives. Ask last year’s runner-up, Liam Graham. The low ranked pro went agonisingly close to winning it and the nature of the format gives virtually every player a chance of glory.
Of course, that makes my life harder!
It’s nice to see some top 16 players present, supporting the event - five in total. I’m happy to bypass all of them, including the two favourites in Zhao Xintong and Shaun Murphy.
| Shoot-Out Winner Odds | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Zhao Xintong | 14/1 | betway |
| Shaun Murphy | 14/1 | BetMGM |
| Mark Allen | 20/1 | Betfred |
| Wu Yize | 22/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Allister Carter | 25/1 | Ladbrokes |
Murphy has made a semi and a quarter before however that’s from 15 appearances. Zhao has played in it five times and never gone past the third round, all prior to his ban. Mark Allen made the final here in 2013 and won it in 2023 so has a tidy record in this. Wu Yize made the semi-final last year so could go well again and Gary Wilson has a woeful record in the event, never going past round three in 11 attempts.
My first of four darts for glory, all over 100/1 starts with runner-up in the first Shoot-Out in 2011, Rob Milkins.
He’s always been the stereotypical ‘Shoot-Out type’ with his fast thinking and quick nature. It’s somewhat surprising he’s not been to a final since the inaugural and this year is the Milkman’s 16th appearance. He threatened with quarter-final losses in 2016 and 2021 so perhaps he likes doing well every five years!
Last year Milkins made the last 16 and a return to a venue he won eight matches at between 2011 and 2015 might be in his favour with a little luck.
Monopoly Sports
No doubt Milkins is one of the thoroughbreds of the event winning 22 matches previously and opens with Liu Hongyu who has never won a Shoot-Out match. This season Milkins is playing with a bit more about him and looks a touch overpriced at 125/1. (Betway go 1/4 odds 4 places for a semi-final berth)
Commentator extraordinaire Steven Hallworth has a bit of love affair with the Shoot-Out. He’s made just six appearances in his career, yet made the quarters in 2017, the last 16 in 2019 and 2022 then a career best semi-final in the December edition of 2023.
That’s a grand total of 16 victories which is massively impressive. One of those came against China’s Gao Yang who he faces in his opener in Blackpool.
There aren’t many players with a better win rate in this event than him (73%) and he’s had a good time of it on tour this season on his return to the pro ranks. Past form sort of goes out the window in this event but there’s no harm in having a player on side who clearly likes the ‘rough and tumble’ format - Hallworth is available at 125/1.
I can’t resist a few quid each-way on Martin O’Donnell who looks way overpriced to my eyes at 150/1 (opened 200/1).
If ever there was a player who doesn’t on paper suit the Shoot-Out it’s probably him with his very slow, languid style of play however he’s got a very decent record in this and is far from a no hoper as suggested in his odds.
O’Donnell made the semi-final in 2018, then the quarter-final in 2021 and last year. In between those efforts, there’s been four first rounds losses so he either gets an early bath or get into the business end seemingly. Reigning champion Ford is his first match but given the record of past champions the year after winning, it looks a good time for ‘MOD’ to face him then hopefully build a run.
Lastly is a player who has a definite stamp of a winner in this event going forward in Liam Davies at 250/1.
He ticks all the positive boxes being a quick player and a fast thinker, very much in the mould of Michael Holt who is arguably the best component of this format.
The 19-year-old had his best ranking finish at the 2023 Shoot-Out (as an amateur) losing out in the last 16 and won two matches last year before being upended by Wu Yize.
Davies faces 2017 champion Anthony McGill first up who has a patchy record in the event with first or second round losses in 9 of his 11 appearances. He’s either withdrawn or hasn’t bothered with the event in four of the last five years so this doesn’t look a priority to the Scot whereas it does to Davies who needs a good run for his ranking. Furthermore, he owes McGill for beating him recently in Scottish Open Qualifying.
Davies is a regular practise partner of Mark Williams and under his guidance will be a force to be reckoned with. I can see him lighting up Blackpool with a deep run.
Shoot-Out Betting Tips
Rob Milkins 125/1 Betway
Steven Hallworth 125/1 Betway
Martin O’Donnell 150/1 Ladbrokes/Coral
Liam Davies 250/1 BetVictor (or 200/1 Betway for 4 places)
4x 0.25pt ew singles.
