World Snooker Shootout

Saw the semis and final for once, and they were excellent. Mark made a great 80 break in his semi, Liang Wenbo was unbelievably unlucky in his semi, and Hossein played the break-building stuff he had done all the way along. Well done to him, although I doubt there'll be an Iranian Open in Tehran any time soon

This year's edition starts on Wednesday from the Morningside Arena in Leicester.

Think Big Bob Milkins got through last night. Some starry 1st round ties (eg Allen-Lisowski) which will mean a lot of no-hopers will get further than they might have expected to.

Reanne Evans claimed a notable victory over Stuart Bingham to progress.
Home favourite Mark Selby is out though after a loss to Mark Davis.

Stephen Maguire lived up to his nickname with a self-pitying interview about the state of snooker.

Whereas this evening, his complete opposite Dechawat Poomjaeng gave the crowd what they wanted as he KO'd Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Third round draw

Jak Jones v Xu Si
Fergal O’Brien v Julien LeClercq
Lukas Kleckers v Yuan Sijun
Dylan Emery v Noppon Saengkham
Cao Yupeng v Ali Carter
Fan Zhengyi v Michael Holt
Liam Highfield v Martin Gould
Mark Williams v Dechawat Poomjaeng
Michael White v Alexander Ursenbacher
David Grace v David Lilley
Joe Perry v Chris Wakelin
Tom Ford v Vladislav Gradinari
Zhou Yuelong v Gary Wilson
Mark Davis v Jack Lisowski
Daniel Wells v Ben Woollaston
Dominic Dale v Asjad Iqbal

4th round:

Tom Ford v Ali Carter
Yuan Sijun v Julien LeClercq
Dominic Dale v Zhou Yuelong
Michael White v David Grace
Jak Jones v Chris Wakelin
Noppon Saengkham v Daniel Wells
Michael Holt v Jack Lisowski
Liam Highfield v Dechawat Poomjaeng

In the end it was a final between Englishman Chris Wakelin and tour debutant Julien LeClercq of Belgium.

And Wakelin kept his composure to seal victory in style with a magnificent break of 119 to clinch the title, a spot in the Champion of Champions along with £50,000 and a huge boost to his ranking points. Superb frame.

Poomjaeng sadly went out in the last 16 with Highfield able to freeze him out.

Well done to Wakelin though I don't suppose it will affect his demeanour of a Grange Hill student being told off. Also well done to LeClercq, an impressive few days work.

Started today in Swansea, I believe.