World number two Kyren Wilson has supported the widely held belief that the Snooker Shoot Out should not be part of the sport’s ranking schedule.
The Shoot Out, which commences on Wednesday in Blackpool, has always divided players and fans but particularly since being upgraded to ranking status in 2017.
Its single-frame format, shot clock, and sometimes rowdy crowd differentiate it from every other event on the calendar.
While some enjoy the variety, others argue that the format is too unpredictable to award ranking points and goes against the traditions of the game.
Speaking to Dream Vegas, the 2024 world champion didn’t hesitate when asked for his view on the tournament’s status.
“It shouldn’t be a ranking event,” said Wilson, who hasn’t played in the Snooker Shoot Out since 2023 and isn’t in the draw again this year.
“It’s as simple as that. There’s no debate for me. It has not got the quality to be a ranking event, in my opinion.”
“They should take away the seriousness of having ranking points and lean more into the fun. What it should be is a real festival of snooker, with a real party atmosphere.
“I’d like to see all the players having a few beers with the fans and enjoying a bit of fast and furious snooker.”
The Shoot Out’s status remains one of the most hotly discussed topics in the sport.
Supporters of the ranking format argue that every event on the tour should count towards the standings and that the Shoot Out provides opportunities for lower-ranked players to climb the list.
Good attendances, comprising some newer fans who wouldn’t typically follow the sport, and the broadcast interest that the event generates are also regarded as positives.
The majority, however, argue that a single-frame match played in a loud environment shouldn’t influence important statistics in the record books and tour survival.
Players like Michael Georgiou, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, and Michael Holt are regarded as ranking event winners and boast the same number of titles under such status as the likes of Matthew Stevens, a former UK champion.
Last season, meanwhile, Liam Graham reached the final despite an otherwise poor run of form elsewhere – an unlikely result that effectively secured his tour safety.
The event regularly produces upsets and dramatic finishes, but its format inevitably introduces greater variance compared with multi-session matches.
Wilson’s remarks arrive ahead of another edition of the Shoot Out, with the 2025 edition being held at the Tower Circus in Blackpool from Wednesday until Saturday.
More details on the tournament, including the first-round draw and schedule, can be viewed here.
Featured photo credit: WST
Anyone watching the current edition of the Shootout may be even more inclined to agree with Wilson — how long did WST have to organize it this year? — yet the shot clock did not work correctly from the start — and another issue with timing at the end made a farce out of the Hugill vs Holt match.
As for awarding ranking points, the relatively low(er) prize money somewhat mitigates that concern.
Yes, pretty bad. Hugill was understandably not pleased.
Distorting the record books is another reason it shouldn’t be ranked. You could get Jimmy White or Ken Doherty breaking the record of the oldest ranking event winner in a way that would feel totally unsatisfactory.
The point about all events should count doesn’t stack up when invitation events don’t carry any ranking points.
Yes that’s right. It’s ridiculous that snooker (and almost no other sport) has this concept of ‘ranking tournament’ embedded in its lexicon.
Because of the distortion, players can be unfairly damaged as well as rewarded. Last season Xing Zihao was relegated because of Liam Graham’s run. He was a player with top-32 potential, but not from a rich family. The huge cost of funding a return to the UK to play professionally could end his career in snooker. Ash Hugill was also relegated for the same reason in 2024. Sport needs to be fair to all participants.
As you know, I’m not so concerned about record books. In my view, all these loose classifications: ‘ranking wins’, ‘majors’, ‘Triple Crowns’ will be thrown out and revised sometime in the future when the game expands. They are nice talking points, but don’t make any material difference.
They do matter to the players and the terms you mention are not necessarily going anywhere. When assessing greatness, in any sports, it’s what you’ve won and how much that is the most important yardstick.
I totally agree about how it can and shouldn’t impact tour survival.
I don’t mind that there’s a wild card element to the ranking system.
Let’s face it, the ranking system is severely flawed anyway. In a normal event a semi final run gets you 20% of the winners points, it’s far too top heavy.
Casual wear pot black doesn’t seem like a ranking tournament to me. It’s the shot clock more than anything else and frame timer. There are other issues as far as I’m concerned, but the idea that ranking points are awarded for this tournament even with a shot clock and frame timer running is odd to me. Getting the winner into the champion of champions seems like adequate recognition for this pro tournament. Alongside the trophy and winners cheque of course.