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The 2023/24 Snooker Shoot Out gets underway this week, with some of the world’s top stars assembling in Swansea for what is one of snooker’s quirkiest competitions. Mark Williams (+2500) is one of the betting favorites to win the competition. And with the 48-year-old hailing from Wales, Williams will also have the home crowd cheering him on. In our latest snooker betting picks we look at the latest betting and tell you what chance the Welsh Potting Machine has of winning the event for the first time in his illustrious career.
- What; 2023 Snooker Shoot Out
- Where; Swansea Arena, Swansea, South Wales
- When; December 6th – 9th, 2023
- Defending Champion; Chris Wakelin
Snooker Shoot Out Format
As we just mentioned, the Snooker Shoot Out is one of the game’s quirkiest competitions. In a break from normal snooker competitions, the Shoot Out is played over one frame, and the frame can only last for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Adding further intrigue is the pot clock. Players only have a maximum of 15 seconds per shot over the first five minutes and 10 seconds per shot over the second five minutes.
You may feel that this is just a bit of fun, and in fairness it is. But believe it or not, it is an official world snooker ranking event. So it is an extremely serious tournament.
That said, unlike in traditional snooker matches, the crowd can shout out and interact, and a party atmosphere is encouraged, almost making it feel more like a night out at a darts tournament.
Former World Champions Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, and Stuart Bingham are all in attendance this week. But given the nature of the event, it can often be an unknown player who comes through and wins. No player from inside the world’s top 16 has ever won the tournament, although Mark Williams, Mark Selby, and Stuart Bingham have all previously reached the final while in the top 16.
And if you’re wondering if the odds of +2500 we put next to Mark Williams’ name at the top of the article is correct, then yes, it is. And as you’re about to read, with all players priced at very long odds, we can hedge our bets in this latest competition.
Betting to win the 2023/24 Snooker Shoot Out
Given the wild west nature of a one-frame Shoot Out, picking a winner is almost a lottery. The best sports betting sites have to create a competitive book though, and for this event, they have gone for Mark Williams (+2500), Mark Allen (+2500), and Shaun Murphy (+2500) as their joint-favorites to win.
The leading trio of players are followed by Ali Carter, Kyren Wilson, and Hossein Vafaei, who are all at +2800. Noppon Saengkham is at +3000, with Stuart Bingham, Zhou Yuelong, David Gilbert, Zhang Anda, Lyu Haotian, Ryan Day, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Tom Ford, and Robert Milkins all at +3300.
More odds are available on our Snooker betting table. For more information on the bookmakers we have used for our odds, please check out our free bets and promotions page.
| Outright Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Mark Allen | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Mark Williams | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Shaun Murphy | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Ali Carter | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Kyren Wilson | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Hossein Vafaei | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Noppon Saengkham | +3000 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Stuart Bingham | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Zhou Yuelong | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| David Gilbert | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Zhang Anda | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Lyu Haotian | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Ryan Day | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Thepchaiya Un-Nooh | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Tom Ford | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Robert Milkins | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Yuan Sijun | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Michael White | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Jamie Jones | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Ricky Walden | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
Right, not onto our betting picks to win the Snooker Shoot Out.
Mark Williams +2500
First up, we are going for Mark Williams to win. Why? Well, for several reasons. The competition is in his home nation of Wales. Williams is the sort of character who will bounce off the crowd. He can be a quick-thinking player, and he has made it to the final of this event before.
Even though no one inside the world’s top 16 (Williams is ranked eight) has won this event before, we still feel Williams is worth a punt. It just has the look of one of those bets that have you kicking yourself if you don’t put it on, and it wins.
Hossein Vafaei +2800
Hossein Vafaei is another player who will revel in the atmosphere in Swansea. The Iranian is a bit of a maverick on the snooker tour. Remember the last world championship? Vafaei is the guy who had a real go at Ronnie O’Sullivan in the press before taking him on in the second round, in an attempt to get under the Rocket’s skin. It didn’t work, as Vafaei lost 13-2. But at least he had the guts to give it a go.
Hossein is ranked 17 in the world and had a decent run to the semi-final of the 2023 UK Championship. Again, losing to O’Sullivan. Although this time, only 6-2.
Hossein Vafaei became the first Iranian player to win a ranking title with a victory over Mark Williams in the final of the Snooker Shoot Out.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 24, 2022
But he won this event in 2022, beating Mark Williams in the final. Hossein Vafaei is well worth a punt at odds of +2800.
Noppon Saengkham +3000
Noppon Saengkham is our third betting pick to win the 2023/24 Shoot Out. The 31-year-old Thai is an electric player, and this is the sort of tournament he would have been looking forward to all season.
Saengkham made it as far as the fourth round (last 16) of the event last season, and also in the 2020/21 competition. But despite falling short in the past, we feel this event is made for Saengkham.
Michael White +4000
And finally, we are going for Michael White. Another Welshman, White won this event back in the 2014/15 season when it wasn’t a ranking event. In last season’s competition, he made it to the quarter-finals, losing to the eventual winner, Chris Wakelin. At +4000, we make Michael White our final betting pick.
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