Snooker Spectacle Returns: Blackpool Set for Thrilling Shoot Out Showdown
Elite snooker is set to make a grand return to Blackpool after a decade-long absence, as the Snooker Shoot Out heads back to the Lancashire seaside town later this year. The prestigious tournament will take place at the iconic Blackpool Tower Circus from December 10-13, marking its first appearance at the venue since 2015. This thrilling event, known for its fast-paced and unpredictable nature, has been held in various locations over the past decade, including Reading, Watford, Milton Keynes, Swansea, and Leicester.
Defending champion Tom Ford will return to Blackpool, aiming to retain his title after securing his first ranking event victory against Liam Graham in Leicester just before Christmas. Previous champions include notable names such as Nigel Bond, Barry Hawkins, Martin Gould, Dominic Dale, and Michael White, all of whom have left their mark on the competition since its inception in 2011.
The Snooker Shoot Out became a ranking event in 2017, further elevating its significance in the sport. However, it was in 2023 that the tournament delivered its most unforgettable moment, thanks to former world champion Shaun Murphy. During the first round in Swansea, Murphy executed the tournament’s first and only 147 maximum break, completing the feat in a breathtaking seven minutes and 35 seconds against Hungarian teenager Bulcsu Revesz.
Under the intense pressure of the competition’s unique format—where players are given only 15 seconds per shot for the first five minutes and just 10 seconds thereafter—Murphy displayed extraordinary skill and composure. His break featured a series of challenging pots, including a particularly tricky third-last red, before sinking the final black with two minutes and 26 seconds still on the clock.
His remarkable achievement was widely hailed as one of the greatest maximum breaks in snooker history, second only to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s world-record five-minute and eight-second 147 at the 1997 World Championship. With the Snooker Shoot Out returning to its original home in Blackpool, fans eagerly anticipate another chapter of high-octane drama and unforgettable moments in one of snooker’s most entertaining events.
