Snooker Shoot Out: tournament betting preview, tips and TV details

TV: Eurosport 1, 1pm & 7pm Thursday

The Snooker Shoot Out returns to the Watford Colosseum where 128 players do battle in front of an atmospheric crowd in pursuit of a £32,000 first prize.

The quirky one-frame format gives the sport’s lesser lights the opportunity to be competitive in a ranking event and, as 20-1 the field will tell you, it’s not easy to select a winner.

But playing against a shot-clock is a skill and, for many, showcasing their talents in front of a raucous crowd will be a new experience.

Some bookmakers have gone a quarter of the odds, four places on their each-way terms which gives punters a little more margin for error at least.

Quick-thinking Tom Ford could thrive under the conditions.

Ford made the fourth round last year, which was just his second shot at the Shoot Out, and impressed in wins over Mark Allen, two-time finalist Xiao Guodong and 2013 champion Martin Gould.

He looked ideally suited to the frenzied format and is a great scorer who can build sizeable leads when given the opportunity.

Ford is a classy cueman who was a semi-finalist at the UK Championship in December and an opener against Michael Judge may be a nice confident booster.

• Snooker Shoot Out rules & format

In an event such as this, it can be nice to have a few at big prices on your side and Kurt Maflin fits the criteria.

When Maflin is on song, he is one of the best break-builders in the game and his recent run to the quarter-final of the Welsh Open suggests he is in top form.

Eventual champion Neil Robertson came from behind to deny the Norwegian in a decider, but there was little shame in that and this is a format which should play to his strengths.

At even bigger prices, talented duo Sam Craigie and James Cahill appeal.

Neither struggle in the scoring department and both have positive experiences in front of the cameras.

Craigie made the third round on his only previous visit to the Colosseum two years ago and his run to the last 32 of this month’s Welsh Open, where he lost 4-3 in a high-scoring encounter to the consistent Jack Lisowski, was a step back in the right direction.

This event could be the platform he needs to take his career to the next level.

Cahill should also give a bold showing. He has claimed the scalps of Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy in ranking events this term and can handle the noisy crowd.

Recommendations
T Ford
0.5pt e-w 50-1 general
K Maflin
0.5pt e-w 70-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
S Craigie
0.5pt e-w 100-1 Sky Bet
J Cahill
0.5pt e-w 250-1 Betway

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