What is the Snooker Shoot Out and what are the playing rules?

In its current iteration, the Snooker Shoot Out has been held every season on the professional circuit since 2010/11. The tournament was initially a 64-player invitational, but since the 2016/17 term, it has been a 128-player ranking event open to all those with a pro tour card.

Spectators at the venue are encouraged to make more noise than they usually would at other snooker events.

What is the format for the Snooker Shoot Out?

At the time of writing, the Snooker Shoot Out begins with 128 players in a flat draw system, meaning all entrants start in the opening round.

Several top ranked players generally elect to skip the tournament, and these vacant spots are filled by amateurs.

A straight-knockout tournament, every round is redrawn ‘FA Cup-style’; there is no ranking/seed protection - anyone can draw anyone in any round.

What are the playing rules for the Snooker Shoot Out?

There are several playing rules that are unique to the Snooker Shoot Out; it’s traditional matchplay snooker, but with a few big twists.

The biggest difference is that every match in the tournament is just one frame.

However, these frames can only last a maximum of ten minutes. If the frame has not been completed within this time, whoever is leading in points is declared the winner. This adds a very different tactical element, as the players who are in front will often try to protect and nurse their lead as the time ticks downs.

As well as a match-clock, there is a shot-clock, too. Players have 15 seconds within the first five minutes of a match to play their shot, and only 10 seconds in the last five minutes. So long as the player has struck the cueball before the shot-clock runs out, this is a legal shot.

For every shot played, a ball (either the cueball or an object ball) must either touch a cushion or be potted. Unlike like pool, this can be before the cueball contacts an object ball.

All fouls result in cueball in hand, meaning the player coming to the table can place the white ball - which is spotted in this tournament - wherever they like to start their visit.

If both players are level on points when the match-clock expires, a blue-ball shoot out is used to determine the winner. This means placing the blue on its spot, and contestants playing from the D. Each player has one shot attempting to pot it in a corner pocket.

If one misses and the other pots, the match is over. If both miss or both pot, they go again until there is a winner.

For a potted history on the Snooker Shoot Out - including a list of champions - please visit our page here.