Snooker Shootout

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The tour now moves to Watford with the start of the Shootout on the 19/02. This hybrid of snooker has a mixed reaction in the sport, attracting an audience that largely go for the beer rather than the baize. Personally, I believe there are good and bad aspects to this event. It is good that it involves every player on the tour, 128 in total, that with a one frame format and the suspense of the shot clock, any player can win a match on the day and the fact that players can gain ranking points and be entered into the Champion of Champions tournament the next season.

However on the downside, this tournament lacks the finesse of snooker.The bar brawl atmosphere is best kept to a darts venue.The use of walk on girls and loud music cheapen the event and the audience are largely not snooker fans. Like Power Snooker before it, this format may work for some but not for others. Frankly I love anything that promotes the sport but like Marmite, you either love or hate the Shootout. Miracles can happen though, Peter Ebdon wouldn’t play in it yet changed his mind last year. Michael Georgiou is the current champio, will he be the first player to retain the title?, time will tell.

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