Mark Allen has emerged victorious from the latest edition of the Snooker Shoot Out in Swansea.
The quickfire format has played its part in no player winning the event more than once in its history, and Northern Irishman Allen is the latest maiden victor.
Allen opened the final day of the three-day event with a 58-36 victory over Sanderson Lam before he became embroiled in a tense 19-10 win over Oliver Lines in the quarter-finals.
That set up a showdown with 2023 World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui, who would have been delighted with another semi-final appearance in a televised event.
However, it was Allen who came through with a 52-18 win, putting him through to a clash with another Chinese player in Cao Yupeng.
The Pistol wins the Shoot Out 🔫
— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 10, 2023
Top-seeded Mark Allen made it a perfect 🔟 of ranking titles, defeating Cao Yupeng to take his second trophy of the season.#ClockIsTicking | @pistol147 pic.twitter.com/6RidZm0Nik
Since reaching the final of the Scottish Open in December 2017, Yupeng had not been beyond the third round of any tournament, but victories over Hammad Miah, Mark Davis and Ali Carter put him through to the showpiece event.
Nevertheless, it was Allen, who replaces Luca Brecel as world number three, that prevailed, dominating the final to win 65-4 and collect the £50,000 first prize.
Meanwhile, Yupeng is able to move up to 43rd in the world rankings, while Jiahui was able to make further headway up to 28th as he bids to quickly rise up the standings.
Darren Plant
