World Snooker Shootout

Definitely especially after last year the crowd did get a little rowdy towards the end
Roll on the unpredictable nature of a 10 minute frame

The piped noise machine is getting a hammering.

Jimmy White & Alan MacManus bit the dust yesterday.

As did Barry Pinches.

And Hawkins and Murphy!

A few outsiders left though.

Long-term non-winners Dave Gilbert and Big Bob Milkins both reached the quarters, but lost to eventual finalists Ryan Day and Mark Selby respectively. Day won the final, though.

Happier news for Mark Selby as he won his first round match here narrowly.

Rod Lawler is totally unsuited to the shoot out format, coastal erosion is faster than poor old Rod.

I think this crowd is even worse than the one at the usual Shootout venue.

Shame to have Milkins v Hamilton so early (though unlikely to happen on telly otherwise), but Hammy did at least get to co-commentate/chat during the following match.

Hossein Vafaei is supposedly the "Prince of Persia".

Barry Pinches alas fell victim to said Prince this afternoon, in a great frame where they cleared the table in 9 minutes.

Good to watch a lot of players competing that we do not see very much on telly.
For some of these guys this tournament exposure may prove a big boost.

Iranian star Hossein Vafaei is this years champion after beating Mark Williams in the final.

Well done to him .