There are 32 players who are still in contention to win the 2024 Snooker Shoot Out trophy at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
A frantic three days of action has seen two rounds take place and the field whittled down from its initial lineup of 128.
But five more victories in the event on Saturday are required to land the 2024/25 snooker season’s tenth ranking title and the £50,000 top prize.
There are four members from the top 16 in the world rankings left vying for the silverware, but defending champion Mark Allen isn’t one of them.
The Pistol bowed out in the second round on Friday following a 36-8 defeat to Si Jiahui, who will face Martin O’Donnell next.
China’s Si is joined in the last 32 by pre-tournament favourite Mark Selby, Zhang Anda, and Ali Carter.
Selby, who went all the way to the final of the unpredictable tournament a few years ago, plays Jamie Jones in the third round.
Carter encounters Liam Graham while Zhang, who knocked out Bai Yulu in the last round, plays Elliot Slessor.
World number 17 Neil Robertson is also still involved in the competition after beating Jackson Page in a close affair.
The Australian, who is participating in the event for the first time since it gained ranking status, has been paired in the random draw with Liam Pullen.
Tom Ford, David Gilbert, Robert Milkins, Noppon Saengkham, and Wu Yize are among the other higher-ranked cueists hoping to extend their stays late into Saturday evening.
Zhou Yuelong, meanwhile, compiled a brilliant break of 101 during his victory over Louis Heathcote.
The 2020 runner-up next meets young Austrian Florian Nuessle, who represents one of the three amateur top-ups who have made it this far.
The others are Dylan Emery, who plays Saengkham, and 16 year-old Moldovan Vladislav Gradinari who has been drawn to face Polish main-tour rookie Antoni Kowalski.
The third round will run from 1pm UTC on Saturday with the remaining rounds to be played consecutively during the 7pm UTC session.
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2024 Snooker Shoot Out draw
Round of 32 (bo1)
Saturday, December 7th
1pm UTC
Matches played approximately every 10-15 minutes
Neil Robertson vs Liam Pullen
Dylan Emery vs Noppon Saengkham
Antoni Kowalski vs Vladislav Gradinari
Wu Yize vs Liam Davies
Zhang Anda vs Elliot Slessor
Aaron Hill vs Allan Taylor
Si Jiahui vs Martin O’Donnell
Kreishh Gurbaxani vs Ashley Carty
Robbie Williams vs Fan Zhengyi
Huang Jiahao vs David Gilbert
Robert Milkins vs Haydon Pinhey
Zhou Yuelong vs Florian Nuessle
Duane Jones vs Tom Ford
Andrew Higginson vs Ma Hailong
Liam Graham vs Ali Carter
Mark Selby vs Jamie Jones
The remaining four round will take place during the 7pm UTC session.
Click here for up-to-date results
(snooker.org)
Featured photo credit: WST
I am now watching the Shoot Out with the sound muted. The odd catcall can be funny but the constant heckling is more like rudeness. The woman’s raucous laughter sounds like a recording and is maybe designed to encourage others to make comments. Am I missing the point here????
It was so good to see so many young stars coming through. Lots of promising great talent for the future. It’s a fun game for them with a reward at the end. Great coverage on the the
TV. Thouroughly enjoyed it.