Mark Allen became the first top-16 ranked player to win the BetVictor Shoot Out, beating Cao Yupeng in the final in Swansea.
It’s a tenth career ranking title for Northern Ireland’s Allen, moving him level with Jimmy White, and he becomes the 12th player in snooker history to reach double figures. Player of the season in 2022/23, Allen had experienced a slow start to the current campaign, but has proved his class again in recent weeks, landing the Champion of Champions crown and now his first Shoot Out success.
Renowned for his capacity to stay calm under pressure, and more than capable of seeing shots quickly, Allen’s game is well suited to this format, with all matches lasting a maximum of ten minutes. He was runner-up to Martin Gould in 2013 and now can add this title to his list of career victories. The world number four was the highest-ranked player in the field this week and becomes the first player in the 12-year history of the event to lift the trophy while positioned among the top 16.
He came into this week in Swansea in 30th place on the one-year list, far from certain of a place in January’s World Grand Prix, but the £50,000 top prize will boost him well inside the top 16. It also moves him into contention for the £150,000 BetVictor Series Bonus, albeit well behind leader Judd Trump with three of the eight counting events remaining.
A slice of good fortune is always needed to win this tournament, and Allen had his during his last 16 tie against Oliver Lines, who was just two balls away from victory but ran millimetres out of position in the closing seconds which cost him the match. Allen went to to beat Si Jiahui in the quarter-finals then in the semis he got the better of Steven Hallworth, who missed the chance to become the first amateur to reach a ranking final.
Allen had first chance in the final and made 16 before missing a tricky red to a top corner. China’s Cao replied with 4 then failed to pot a long blue, and that proved his only real opportunity. Allen got back in with an excellent long red, then added 15 and laid a tough snooker, and from that point was able to nurse his lead to the winning line.
“It was crazy tonight, the last session is chaotic,” said 37-year-old Allen, who lost 10-6 to Cao in the first round of the 2012 World Championship. “But you feel you can get on a roll when things start happening quickly. Every time I come to a tournament I want to win it.
“I was very aware of my position on the one-year list coming into this week, I was keeping an eye on the rankings, so I’m glad to have that World Grand Prix place secured now.
“Today the crowd was so good, it reminded me of when we first played this event in Blackpool – in my view that was the best Shoot Out venue but this is right up there. There were a few words thrown at me which was great fun, I was mentally prepared for what they were going to shout out. It was good see the event right back to its best.”
World number 49 Cao missed out on a first ranking title and has now lost three finals, but was delighted with his run and £20,000 runner-up prize. “I feel perfect event though I lost the final,” he said. “I am not the fastest player but I did very well this week. I like the Shoot Out and this arena is amazing. I had one good chance in the final but didn’t get position on the blue.”
Snooker resumes at 10am on Monday at the BetVictor Scottish Open in Edinburgh – for ticket details click here.
