Alfie Burden secured a maiden ranking title just shy of his 49th birthday with victory at the 2025 Snooker Shoot Out on Saturday in Blackpool.
The Londoner only received a late call-up to participate in the tournament as a top-up amateur on Wednesday morning, the competition’s opening day.
Ali Carter had already been replaced by Alex Clenshaw, but after the latter also withdrew there was another spot available that Burden gratefully filled.
Burden was about to jump into the swimming pool when he noticed a missed call from the World Snooker Tour, but upon learning of his invitation he was quickly on the M1 to the Tower Circus.
Having first turned professional all the way back in 1994, Burden has experienced many ups and downs throughout a long career on the baize.
But the calendar year of 2025 has represented a rollercoaster ride especially, with the disappointment of relegation from the main tour in April tempered by emerging victoriously at the World Seniors Championship in May.
Burden, who competed at the Champion of Champions invitational last month, has since been struggling for form on the amateur Q Tour.
But it all came together at the rapid format of the Snooker Shoot Out, where his confidence grew amid a seven-game winning streak.
Burden survived a close encounter with David Lilley in his first-round encounter but made a break of 85 against Ishrpreet Singh Chadha in the second round.
The former world amateur champion then began the final day by knocking out Gary Wilson, the sole remaining member from the top 16 in the event.
Wins against Liam Highfield and Zachary Richardson followed before a 73 contribution helped him to defeat Noppon Saengkham in the semi-finals.
Burden faced Stuart Bingham in the final, and a break of 56 proved crucial as he memorably got his hands on ranking silverware for the first time.
“It’s an amazing moment,” Alfie Burden, who jumped on the snooker table in celebration with the boisterous crowd, told the World Snooker Tour.
“I wasn’t expecting it. It was a last-minute call-up, and it’s just been one of those few days where I’ve played really well.”
“I had a couple of tricky frames. But from the start, I felt like I played pretty good snooker from when I did that clearance against David Lilley.
“Everything fell into place for me. I am a ranking event winner now and that is something I am very proud of.
“After dropping off the tour last season, I found myself in the wilderness. I have had no motivation to play on the Q Tour.
“I turned up for a few events in terrible shape having not practiced. Then I went to the one in Bulgaria with a new cue and lost narrowly 4-3 in the semi-finals.
“Now I am hoping this win will get me back on the tour.”
Burden, who becomes only the second player with amateur status to win a ranking event, will almost certainly receive a fresh two-year professional card on the back of this triumph.
The £50,000 champion’s cheque will see the Englishman rocket up the one-year rankings list, where the top four at the end of the season who aren’t already in the top 64 will gain a new card.
“I was a pro for a long time. I first joined the tour when I was 17,” Burden continued. “I still have a lot to offer snooker, I am hungry.”
“I love the game and I have people who believe in me. I have a great family and friends, a great mentor in Patsy Fagan. It has been a difficult career, I am not going to lie.
“Snooker is a very tough sport mentally. There have been a lot more downs than ups, but this is a moment I will cherish.
“I can’t wait to see my children, I’m blessed to have them. They have always supported me, so this is for them really.”
Burden could hardly have chosen a better way to celebrate his 49th birthday on Sunday than by finally lifting ranking silverware.
Photos credit: WST
When he says he ‘played really well’, that’s definitely true of the matches I saw: he made tough pots when he needed to, controlled the cue ball in order to stay in and score, and hit good safeties when prudent or necessary — maybe more importantly, he had a very positive competitive presence: a cool customer, never appeared rattled or concerned — he looked like a winner: he radiated confidence with his body language and facial expressions — regarding that aspect of their games, there are more than a few main tour players who would benefit by watching Burden’s Shootout performances.
These two amateur wins don’t feel quite right for different reasons.
Zhao Xintong was already a UK Champion and only amateur due to his ban.
I congratulate Alfie Burden but it’s ludicrous this event is ranked. He’s the oldest first winner of a ranking event. Another important record that’s distorted by the misplaced decision to confer ranking status upon it.
Yes well the fact that 7 out of the 10 Shoot-Out ‘ranking’ winners haven’t won anything else probably demonstrates that the ‘ranking wins’ perhaps isn’t such an important record. A more stable set of criteria is needed. I’ll look into it over Christmas, but I’ll need your input.
I meant oldest first-time winner of a ranking event.
World Snooker calling it his biggest win but I’ve not read any quotes from him saying it topped winning the World Seniors Championship at the Crucible.
Only in the Shootout would five amateurs reach the last 16 of a ranking event.
They are probably referring to prize-money, which seems to dictate everything. The World Seniors’ Championship was £10000, whereas the Shoot-Out was £50000.
It is from a financial perspective but money doesn’t always dictate what a player regards as his biggest win. Mark Allen still regards his first Northern Ireland win as his biggest victory despite having won a number of tournaments carrying a bigger first prize.