Snooker Shoot Out 2023 as it happened - Chris Wakelin beats Julien Leclercq to claim maiden title

It's been a blast, just as it always is at the Shoot Out. Thanks for your company, we'll see you again soon.

As the confetti falls on Chris as he lifts the trophy, we cut back to studio. Reanne practices with Chris, and is made up for him. Jimmy thinks we'll be seeing a lot more of him from here, and this could just be the breakthrough and career boost he needs. Two good judges right there, and worth listening to. Chris is only 30, and there's still so much he can do in the sport.

Julien is thrilled with his week - how couldn't you be, and what really could he do against that in the final. It's his first year on the tour, and he looks a real talent. For Chris, chuffed to bits understandably, it's a huge moment after clawing his way along in the tour through his twenties. He's gracious and generous to Julien in victory; have a great night Chris, life won't be quite the same again from tomorrow onwards.

What a day for him, and what a way to win it! A brilliant 119, the highest break of the tournament, seals a first ranking event title for Chris Wakelin. Not only that, it's fifty grand for the title, another five for the highest break, a slew of points that will send him shooting north in the rankings, and entry to the Champion of Champions. Not bad for just over an hour's table time. Chapeau Chris Wakelin!

He's only gone and missed the final black, but who cares - he's won the 2023 Snooker Shoot Out!

Frame ball red soon goes, and there's a chance that Chris could total here. A blue rattles but drops, and he's grinning now; how good must this feel! Chris is on the colours and every pot is being treated like a World Cup Final winner. He could nick the highest break prize here too!

Julien can do nothing as Chris advances to a half-ton. A long, recovery red to the yellow pocket has surely finished it; he's going to do this in one hit, what a way to win the Shoot Out!

This is good stuff from Chris, running the clock down and steadily compiling a lead. The break is up to 35 now, and we're now playing ten seconds per shot. If Julien does get back to the table he'll have much to do.

Julien breaks, and we're underway. It's a cagey start, until a poor containing safety from Julien leaves a red on to the bottom right. Chris is off, and it's a decent chance. He flukes position on the black early, but rattles in a tough cut back to hold position. There's a nice spread on, and he starts tucking in.

What an opportunity for both men here. There's no hanging about - here come Julien Leclercq and Chris Wakelin, with a chance to win a ranking event title and fifty large. It's a ten minute window to change their entire lives; best of luck out there old mates.

The break hits 31 to put the frame safe, but Julien is having fun and continues to let his cue fly. The half-century arrives, and a total of 58 secures his place in the final. What a performance from him!

Julien's break ends on 36, and Dominic has a chance as he tags a red into the bottom right. A black follows but he can't open the pack, and he goes in-off when trying to play safe. The Spaceman looks resigned to defeat now, as Julien has ball-in-hand on an open table.

Julien gets the opening red down, followed by a stunner of a pink to right middle but no more. A long safety battle follows, culminating in Julien wedging the white in tight behind the pink in baulk. Dominic has to rush his escape, and amazingly manages to miss all the reds on the table! What a chance for Julien now, and he starts piling on the points. There are a lot of loose reds to go for here.

One of Dominic Dale and Julien Leclercq, that's who. Here we go.

Chris almost goes in-off, then when Daniel misses a red to bottom right and leaves it in the jaws, he turns around and concedes. Chris, who survived a blue ball shoot out in round one, is in the final!

Daniel gets a double kiss on a red as he misses it long to the bottom right, and Chris can put this away or as good as here. Two reds and pinks follow before he plays safe back to baulk, with the white tight behind the brown. There are only 68 seconds left.

What a brace of shots from Chris, as he clubs in a long red and follows it up with a tough green to left middle. Slowly but surely he chips away at Daniel's lead, and goes in front with a blue to left middle. With just under four minutes to go his break ends on 32 when he can't get on a red to bottom right, and this one is wide open.

There is literally no hanging around here, as we're straight into the first semi-final. Wakelin goes in-off early, and it's a ball-in-hand chance for Wells. It's an awkward one with the black tied up and reds not ideal, but Wells can take charge and starts to do so. A quick 23 precedes a trip back to baulk for the white.

Dominic Dale could be the oldest player to win a ranking event if he sees this through, as well as the first to win the Shoot Out twice. For Daniel Wells, Chris Wakelin and Julien Leclercq, it would be their first ranking event win period. There’s landmarks to be acheived in every diretion.

Tahir and Reanne do the honours again, and here's your menu.

Daniel Wells vs Chris Wakelin

Dominic Dale vs Julien Leclercq

Chris makes 24, before chancing a double on a red to left middle. It's needless, and he's missed it and left it on! Will he regret that? No! Michael can't convert the wafer thin red, and Chris escapes. In the final seconds Chris gets a red-blue down, and he's in the semi-finals!

We're into the second half of the frame, and with things speeding up Chris is left a shot at a red to left middle. He makes a quick 12, but a canon doesn't work out and only leaves a tough red to right middle. It doesn't drop, and Michael then fires back with a double...but undercuts a blue to left middle and Chris is in! A blue to left middle soon puts him in front, and he's still on his break with 2:20 left.

Michael's away first with a sweet long red into the bottom left, and he's back up for the green. He overruns the baulk colours off his next red though, so it's only five from that visit. Chris then serves him another chance immediately, leaving a red right over the bottom right from a safety, and Liam drains it perfectly to hold for the black. It's a huge chance, but he soon overcooks position again and hasn't landed on a red. It's back to baulk, and that's a touch for Chris.

We're not done yet in the last eight either, here come Michael White and Chris Wakelin.

Oh my word! Julien misses what is effectively match ball red, and with 50 seconds left Michael can nick it! He takes on a tough mid-range cut to bottom right, but it rattles out; what a let off for Julien, who then tidies up another red before missing the blue. With 15 seconds left Michael can't pot a thrashed red to bottom right, and it's over. The Shoot Out master is gone, and Julien goes on!

Well now! Michael misses a long red, scattering others all over, and what a chance he's given Julien. A brilliant recovery red to green pocket keeps him going just as his break looks like faltering; this young guy is a thrilling watch! With 1:18 remaining, he takes the lead in the frame.

Michael adds only nine from the chance, and we've still got a live one as the ten second shot clock kicks in. The table is a bit of a mess, with the remaining reds clustered in the bottom right corner. Julien needs to try and force the issue, and a thrash at a red to the bottom right misses but amazingly leaves Michael nothing. There is 3:20 left on the clock.

Julien breaks, and he's left a red to right middle. Michael snags it, and six in total, before missing a red to the bottom left. Julien then misses a red with the rest, before Michael makes a sensational plant after swerving around the green. No colour follows, and Julien then drains a sensational long red but snookers himself on all colours with the white nestled in the pack! That's rotten luck, and from his attempted escape he misses the black to give Michael seven points and ball-in-hand.

A real master and apprentice feel to this one, as the Shoot Out benchmark Michael Holt takes on the fearless takes on Julien Leclercq.

What a classy visit from the Spaceman! He puts the frame to bed, before missing a green to its own pocket when a round ton was on. Dominic marches on in search of history, but what a contribution to this event by Liam. What a story; almost Morningside glory (that's the last reference to that era, promise).

From a deadweight pink to bottom right Dominic opens a final cluster of four reds; what an effort this is, and he reaches the half-ton with everything in the open. It's a magnificent break, and he's almost home and hosed.

Dominic leaves a long tempter to the yellow pocket; Liam takes it on, misses and leaves it over the left middle. It's a huge chance for Dominic, who is quickly into rhe pack to develop the chance he needs to win the match. With just over four minutes to go he hits the front as a pink to left middle takes his break to 35, and he brings two other reds into play in the same shot.

Dominic breaks, and Liam launches a long red into the bottom right and lands on the green. In co-comms, Angles says Liam is playing the best of anyone in Leicester this week. As if to reinforce the point, Liam starts scoring heavily and goes to 18 with a lovely long red into the yellow pocket. The break reaches 32 before he runs out of reds to go at, and plays safe.

What a cracker we've got now - here come Dominic Dale and Liam Highfield.

Tom can't fashion a chance for himself, and eventually leaves a red over the yellow pocket. A quick red and yellow follow, and with 90 seconds left as Ford returns, it's over. One more red-blue combo from Daniel sees the concession from Tom.

On 47 Daniel twitches on an off-straight red to bottom left and hits it straight, missing the pot by a huge distance. There are still five minutes left. Tom needs two bites to get in, but get in he does. It's a tough chance that yields only 12, but with 3:30 left he's still in it.

Tom is not wanting for support here, being the local boy, and he's up and away first with a red into the yellow pocket. It's a chance, but he misses black badly off its spot to lob a chance to Daniel early on. They're taken methodically, as Daniel reaches 31 and counting a third of the way through the frame.

The tournament rattles on, as Tom Ford and Daniel Wells stride out into the arena.

These are coin flip frames, but the presence of three former winners in Dale, White and Holt feels telling. They'll all fancy it, but how about Liam Highfield's form, with two one visit victories in his matches today?

Tahir Hajat and the legendary Reanne Evans sort it out, and it’s as follows:

Daniel Wells vs Tom Ford

Liam Highfield vs Dominic Dale

Michael Holt vs Julien Leclercq

Chris Wakelin vs Michael White

Two pots, one foul and some raucous cheering later, it's over. What a contribution both players have made to this tournament, and Liam is not done yet.

Frame ball red takes Liam to 62, so he's in the last eight. Can he notch a ton here with three minutes left? No, his break ends on 75. And here comes Dechawat for a thank you lap for this crowd.

It's some atmosphere, with the kind of off-key boisterous singing that refreshed Brits are renowned for soundtracking Liam's break. It's not bothering him - he's revelling if anything - and there's the half-ton with four minutes to go. 'It's all part of the Masterplan,' quips Fouldsy in co-comms.

For all the bucket hats, shades and chuckles, these two will now be scenting a potential ranking event title win that might change their careers and lives. Liam hoses down a long cut on a red, but doesn't land on a colour. A good safety soon after though leaves Dechawat no option but to try and thrash a hit and hope escape. Dechawat throws his leg in the air theatrically after launching the white; he's thrown Liam a chance thuough, because reds scatter and points soon start accumulating.

It's the final match of the round of 16 now, and it's Britpop throwback Liam Highfield against old school entertaining's Dechawat Poomjaeng. This should be lively, and the crowd are right up for it.

Jack can only hit and hope that the red flies in, but he misses the red completely in his escape. That's four away, and with 20 seconds left he turns to Michael and shakes his hand. What a frame!

With 2:40 remaining Michael nails a cross-double into the right middle, and this is his chance. Calmly and assuredly, he moves to a break of 32 with the blue and hits the front with 50 seconds left. He's on the penultimate red...and it's into the heart of the yellow pocket! A snooker follows, and what a turnaround! Can Jack do anything here?

It's only red-black in response for Michael, and a solitary red at his next visit sees him turn down a long blue in favour of playing safe. He's not intimidated by the clock here, and a third chance goes by when he pots a red to bottom right but snookers himself on the black. Michael is getting chances, but not taking them. Can he force one more?

Jack wins the lag and Michael breaks. After some respectful safety Jack plugs a long red to the bottom left and holds for the black. That ball is on to both corners, and Michael can only sit back and watch a barrage of one point followed by seven. That breaks when Jack goes up for the blue, but he misses the next red and Michael comes to the table 38 behind with six and a half minutes left.

This is the rubbing-our-hands match of this round, as Jack Lisowski takes on Shoot Out master Michael Holt. Let's have it!

One more red and a missed black later and Noppon calls it off with seconds left. It's a precarious business, defending these 30-40 point leads!

A chance here? Daniel misses the pink on 13, and a brilliant red-blue from Noppon gives him a sliver of hope. He gets 28 back, and then fires in a tough, narrow red to bottom left from distance. The black follows, and Daniel must be sweating...until Noppon leaves the penultimate red in the jaws with under a minute left! He had a real shot at that, but it's gone now.

Much like Jak in the previous game, Daniel is playing to protect a lead as he gets 36 ahead. Noppon can score quickly, and will need to if he gets a chance. With four minutes left it comes, but he can't drill in a straight red over the bottom left and it's left a chance for Daniel.

It's an exchange of safety shots to start, in which Noppon goes in-off and gifts a ball-in-hand chance to Daniel. A swift 23 follows before Daniel fails to land on a red after going in and out of baulk and plays safe. A poor safety from Noppon puts Daniel back in though, and he's bossing this so far.

Noppon Saengkham and Daniel Wells, that's what.

Jak has a thrash at the reds, trying to make something happen, but one doesn't drop and it's left Chris on one instead. It's calmly rolled in with six seconds left, and Chris is through to the last eight!

Chris is back in it, but it's getting harder. There are four reds along the bottom cushion but Chris drops one in nicely to bottom right, and the pink to follow puts him in the lead! There's one minute left as Chris plays safe, and this is wide open!

This is nice from Jak, draining a shot to nothing followed by the brown. Again a safety follows, so it's a slender lead as we pass the halfway mark and things speed up. Chris isn't getting a sniff of a chance, and when he lands a good safety Jak responds by hosing in a superb long red with deep screw, and putting Chris behind the yellow. From there mind, Chris wriggles in a brilliant long red to go back up for the yellow; he's got time on the clock, and he's bang in here!

It's Jak that's in first, and he's on the black. He immediately settles into a smooth break, taking the 29 available before playing safe back to baulk. There are three minutes gone, and Jak is in charge.

We're halfway through the round of 16, and here come Chris Wakelin and Jak Jones to battle for a place in the quarters.

A further 15 from Michael makes it an impossible task for David. When David does register a red he misses a black off its spot. With a minute left there's no point in continuing, and he shakes Michael's hand.

David has time to play with, but chances everything on a cross double with just over four minutes left. It's close, but it spits out of the right middle; it's an absolute gimme for Michael, but he can't roll a simple straight red into the same pocket! This is tense. David only makes eight from his chance, rushing a few more shots despite significant time on the clock, and after a snooker from Michael he sends the white crashing into the pink from his bashed escape. That should be that, but this has been a jittery one so you never know.

Michael gets in first, and he's not hanging about. A swift 19 establishes a lead, but when he can't land on the pink is forced to play safe. David then misses a tough long red, but Michael can't convert the follow-up. This could be bad though; David clips in a thin, long red, and the white drifts gently into the green pocket. That's four away and ball in hand. Michael adds a few more, and he's got a useful lead with six minutes left.

Former champion Michael White is up, facing David Grace.

It's 67 for Dominic, and Yuelong needs exactly that just to tie; he has four minutes. Yuelong soon misses a long red, and Dominic picks it off; when Yuelong then fouls by playing the white with the yellow still travelling, he immediately concedes. Could the Spaceman be the first player to win this event twice?

Dominic splits the pack off the blue to reach 45, and two reds break off very nicely indeed. The half-ton is in the books as the shot clock changes to ten seconds; this is a superb visit from the Spaceman.

After 90 seconds of safety Dominic gets a look at a mid-range red to bottom left. It's bullet straight, and he bullets it in; he's off, and it's a big scoring chance. Dominic uses all the time available - warily I'm sure, as he timed out in his match earlier today - and he's taking these serenely. We're a third of the way in, and he's on 33 and counting.

Here's former Shoot Out champion and crooner Dominic Dale, against former Shoot Out finalist Zhou Yuelong. Yurs!

What an effort from SiJun! He gets back in it with three reds and blacks, but there's just not enough time to make up all the ground. He misses the yellow with five seconds to go, and that's it all done. Julien is in a ranking event quarter-final!

Julien makes 17 before losing position on the black; back to baulk he goes, and with just over two minutes left SiJun is still in this. SiJun can't drain a long red though, and Julien manages it in reply; a green is added and SiJun comes back to the table with it all to do in 80 seconds.

A high quality safety exchange takes us to the halfway point. Julien eventually leaves a red over the bottom left and SiJun picks it off, dropping in nicely behind the black thereafter. If he can hold his nerve here there's a load on, because the reds are spread compliantly and the black is on to both corners. SiJun needs a recovery blue to the green pocket to keep going on 23...but he's missed it, and Julien is in again.

SiJun breaks, and Julien confidently deadweights a straight long red to hold for the black. That's some shot, and he's not done either. It's a barrage of four reds and blacks in the opening two minutes before Julien plays safe back to baulk.

Phew! Are Yuan SiJun and Julien Leclercq going to put us through it like that? Let's find out!

Oh my word! Ali has been gifted this chance with 60 seconds left. He pots a red to move within a point of Tom, but leaves a tough blue to left middle and it rolls out off the knuckles! Tom then dispatches a red, and lays a snooker behind the brown. Before the balls have stopped Ali, with two second left, just wallops the white in hope at the reds. It's a foul, the match is over, and Tom has won a dramatic opening frame of the night!

Another good safety from Tom forces a mistake from Ali, as he catches the jaws of the bottom right with the white and leaves Tom right in. Oh my word though, look at this - no sooner does Tom take the lead than he misses a straight pink to the right middle!

This feels like a ranking event final decider at 9-9, but on fast forward. There are plenty of shots to nothing, but they're registering nothing and we're now into the final four minutes. Eventually Tom drains one to the bottom right and just about avoids going into the green bag. His snooker that follows is escaped from superbly by Ali, and well enough not to leave anything.

This is a huge match first up, and the local lad Tom gets in first with a red to bottom left. A blue and red follow, but no more; Ali then gets a chance with a red to right middle and he drains it. He moves into the lead with a third of the frame gone, but doesn't want to risk opening the reds too much at this stage and soon goes back to baulk. Cagey stuff.

Our MC Tahir Hajat brings out Tom Ford and Ali Carter, and it is absolutely popping in that arena tonight. Here we go then, let's get about it.

Tom Ford vs Ali Carter

Yuan SiJun vs Julien Leclercq

Dominic Dale vs Zhou Yuelong

Michael White vs David Grace

Chris Wakelin vs Jak Jones

Noppon Saengkham vs Daniel Wells

Michael Holt vs Jack Lisowski

Liam Highfield vs Dechawat Poomjaeng

And then there were 16. We’ve arrived at the denouement of the Snooker Shoot Out, and the final evening dash for the prize in Leicester. In about four hours’ time one of these remaining players will have fifty grand in their back bin for just 70 minutes work in four days. I know, and you thought MPs had it tough.

There's also the trophy itself and a place in the 2023 Champion of Champions on the go; plenty to play for then, so let's so how it all lands.

We're down to 16 for the evening, where we'll keep playing until one player gets their hands on the trophy. Join us again from 6.45pm BST to see how it all plays out.

Last year's runner up is out of the tournament. Mark Williams was blown off the table there, and Dechawat hoses in three more extravagant pots to put the frame to bed. The theatre before, during and after each one are lapped up by this audience; Dechawat will be back in the house tonight, and has been the box office star of the last four days.

What a showman! Dechawat is jogging from pot to pot, and hedges his bets after making 45 and plays safe. Mark then just thrashes at the reds left near the right rail, but none drop in; that should probably do it. Dechawat is whipping up this crowd, who are loving it as much as he is. I'm not sure Mark's loving it, but this is quite the performance in all senses!

A superb made plant gets Dechawat in, followed by an even better cut on a blue to the green bag. Dechawat moves in front, in a precarious break where he's forever the wrong side of the blue. A nice nudge into reds below the pink has opened it all up for him now; there are three minutes to go, and Mark is in bother here.

Dechawat is milking this boisterous crowd for all it's worth, while Mark has the expression of an Easter Island statue. And it's Mark that gets in first after Dechawat misses a deadweight long red; a swift 12 follows, and then a safety. Dechawat then misses another couple of yahoos at reds; is he a bit too pumped up here? He hasn't really settled, but there's nothing in it with six minutes to go.

Jack adds a further 21 before Mark walks across to shake his hand. In the next round Jack will play Michael Holt, and that should be a belter.

Speaking of belters next up we've got the last match of the day, Mark Williams versus tournament sensation Dechawat Poomjaeng.

A 41 from Jack is followed by a snooker behind the brown; the last four reds are currently safe, and we've got under two minutes left. Mark needs a red down, sharpish; instead it's Jack that fires down the next one from distance, and I'd venture we're done here.

This is how quickly it can turn in the Shoot Out. A poor safety from Mark leaves a cut to the right middle, which Jack snicks in and lands fortuitously on the brown. Within no time Mark's lead is toast, he should get back to the table but he'll be behind with time dwindling rapidly if so.

After a two-minute safety exchange, Mark lands a brutal snooker tight behind the green in baulk. Jack plays the hit and hope, and his hopes are dashed as he leaves Mark in. There's a lot on here, and Mark starts piling up a lead. He'll be disappointed to have only made 22 though as the chance looked worth more than that.

As he is constantly reminded (says I, typing a reminder), Jack Lisowski has never won a ranking event title. Some people put air quotes around that term when discussing the Shoot Out, but it goes in the books as one and you may as well start somewhere. Can Jack get off the mark in Leicester? Mark Davis stands in his way next.

It's over; Liam blows a good chance to register the 100th century of his career and threaten the highest break prize by missing a black off its spot. The 80 before that are enough for Martin to wave it off.

Liam - Not Noel - is being serenaded with Wonderwall as he calmly takes his break to a half-century. With the reds as they are, he could be home and hosed with over four minutes to go in the frame. All Martin has done here is break off and look on so far.

Martin's break leaves a red to right middle, and Liam - Not Noel - gobbles it up and flukes position on the black. Touch! We're barely two minutes in and Liam powers to an early lead; he's opened the reds to and picked off a tough one to right middle to keeping going. This is some start, he's really going for it.

Next up it's the Britpop kid and bucket hat aficionado Liam Highfield against the 2013 Shoot Out winner Martin Gould.

'He's a player going places,' says Fouldsy in co-comms. Noppon gets in with another long red, and lets his arm go thereafter. You can't win a Shoot Out match much more comprehensively than this. A flat 50 from Noppon sees it through, as he misses the final pink as time expires.

Noppon drains a replica long red to get going again, long into the bottom left to hold for the blue. In total 14 more are added before Noppon plays safe; Dylan has little option but to throw everything at a long red, and he's missed it and left one. Another 12 are quickly added, and with three minutes to go Dylan already needs a snooker.

Noppon reaches 44 by drilling in the black, but a glancing blow on the pack doesn't leave him on a red and safety follows. Dylan has a lot to do here, and about five minutes to do it in.

Dylan misses a long red, and Noppon immediately drains one in response. Noppon settles straight in to his break, and he's striking it very sweetly indeed. A superb red along the cushion and into the bottom right takes him to 21, and he's nicely on the black.

We've got four matches left, and here comes another laced with intrigue. It's Dylan Emery against Noppon Saengkham.

With the pressure off Yuelong piles in another 20 as time expires, and he'll be back tonight.

Yuelong moves further ahead before playing safe; there are four reds and two minutes left. Gary tries to force the issue with a red to right middle, but misses it and leaves a red to bottom right. That goes followed by the pink, and that is surely that.

It's a very dangerous, open table and Yuelong gets first crack at it after a poor safety from Gary leaves Yuelong a sitter. Yuelong can only make nine though after a poor positional shot off a red, and what a reprieve for Gary. Not for long, mind; another poor safety from him again gifts Yuelong an easy starter. There are four minutes left, but if Gary gets back to the table he could be irretrievably far behind.

What a shot from Gary! Bridging high over a red, he prods another into the left middle and he's in the black. Points start accumulating quickly, but after catching the brown when going through baulk he leaves a long-ish red to bottom right. That rattles out and it's on to the bottom left; Yuelong starts firing back immediately. He gets to 20 by going into the pack off the black, but he's on nothing and sends the red back to baulk.

Zhou Yuelong, a runner-up in this event in 2020, takes on the recent Scottish Open winner Gary Wilson next.

SiJun gets in front, but badly misses an off-straight pink and it's in the balance with just over a minute left! Lukas has to throw everything at a cut on a red to bottom left...and he's left it in the jaws! SiJun picks it off, and with the final two reds welded to cushions there's not enough time to make anything happen when he gets back to the table. SiJun sees it home, and pumps his fist into the air to celebrate as time expires.

Lukas gets in again, red to right middle, and adds a quick nine points before playing safe. It's not much of a lead though, and with four minutes to go SiJun drains another brilliant long red and he's on the yellow. A nudge open of four reds off the blue a few shots later suddenly makes him favourite for the frame.

SiJun drains a superb long red into the bottom right after Lukas's break. He's on the blue and it's a good look, but he misses a sitter of a red to abruptly end his break on six. Lukas then gets in with an outrageous fluke after initially missing a red to left middle, and what a table he's got to go at here! A loose positional shot means only 18 is cashed in, and that will feel like some kind of poetic justice for SiJun.

It's either/or in many cases as we're not through the round yet, but here it is as stands:

Either Lukas Kleckers or Yuan SiJun will confirm their place shortly, that's up next.

A swift red-pink-red gets put away by Jak, and with only a few seconds left and hope extinguished Si folds it.

Si opens the reds, and leaves one to the bottom left. Jak picks it off, but can't get on a colour; Si's chance now comes as Jak misses a red to bottom left at his next visit. It's a big chance, but Si misses a tough cut back on a red to bottom left and leaves it there; that will surely be that.

Jak drains a superb long red followed by the brown, but can't thin cut a red to follow. He then drops his chalk under the table, and the frame is paused while he recovers it. This is a tight frame and there's not much in the open; with three minutes to go, Si needs to force the issue surely.

It takes two and a half minutes to get a ball down, courtesy of a nice rest shot from Si into the bottom left. He then goes in-off from the yellow, and Jak gets a gift of a chance with ball in hand. There's not a load on though and Jak doesn't want to chance opening the bunch too much, so he takes the 10 availavle and plays safe.

Here we go with Jak Jones and Xu Si.

Joe misses two bashes at long reds in the final two minutes, and from the second of those he's left Chris in. Red-pink-red follows, and the clock expires; that was a close one, and Chris advances.

Chris composes himself with a mid-range red to bottom right, and a pink to follow puts him in front. Joe then misses a thrash at a long red; he panicked a bit early then maybe as there were still three minutes left. Chris takes only red-blue in response, and this looks destined to go to the wire.

Joe gets in first with a long cut to the bottom left, and registers a swift 12 before playing safe. Chris then jams a red in before missing the black, and later misses a deadweight red to bottom right. That allows Joe to hose down a red long to the yellow pocket, but he then misses a shocker of a yellow to the same bag, and what a chance for Chris! Just as he'd about to pull level though, he has a howler of his own as he misses a straight red to the bottom left. Joe picks of another red but isn't on a colour; my my, this is an edgy one!

Joe Perry versus Chris Wakelin, anyone? I'm in, let's do it.

If he's doing requests surely it's only fitting that he covers Spaceman by Babylon Zoo at some point.

Michael takes red-black-yellow, and Alexander can only tie. Both players can't pot for toffee in the final 40 seconds, and Michael falls over the line to win. 'I got away with one there,' he tells Jimmy White in his post-match interview. No matter; he's through to the evening session!

This one's all over the place! Alexander only registers red-black before missing a shocker of a red, Michael then takes red-brown before rattling out a red of his own. Alexander is in with a huge chance again, but inexplicably snookers himself on all colours behind the final red! He misses the yellow on his escape, and surely he's handed the match to Michael now with ball in hand.

We reach halfway with Michael steadily building a lead, and a nice red to bottom right sees the cue ball nudge a cluster open. Will that win the frame? No - Michael has a nightmare as he misses a red to left middle and goes in-off! Crikey. Ball in hand to Alexander, who has a big chance now.

Alexander chucks everything at a red to right middle, but misses it and serves up a sitter. It's a good chance, but on seven Michael leaves himself a tough pink to right middle and misses it by a long way. In steps Alexander, and he's quickly in front with a break of 12 before badly missing a cut back on a black.

It's Michael White, the 2015 champion, against Alexander Ursenbacher. This should be a belter - even the lag is a draw, and Alexander wins the re-lag before asking Michael to break.

Daniel registers 30, and Ben is forced to gamble everything on a long red and misses it. There's not much time left now, Ben misses a brutally tough thin red to left middle soon after and it's over. Daniel pops in a couple of additional reds before time expires, and he's through to the evening. A textbook example there of how control in one of these frames counts for little if points don't come with it.

Now then! A full ball snooker from Daniel forces a rushed escape from Ben, and there's a red on to the bottom right. It's a chance, and a swift 24 and counting puts Daniel ahead with just under two minutes to go. Can he keep going here? It's tense, because any miss now is huge.

This is how to win a Shoot Out in increments. Ben gets another red down, followed by a containing safety. He's in charge, but this could flip quickly with one loose shot. We're down to four minutes to go, and the reds are mostly snarled up around the black spot.

Daniel just fails to clip in a wafer thin red to right middle at the get go in this one, and Ben picks it off to develop the first chance. Ben has been in the last eight twice before, so is capable in this format. A break of 12 follows, so a slender lead for him with three minutes gone; a poor shot from Daniel then leaves Ben a gimme to the bottom left. Red-blue follows, but no more.

As mid-nineties dance anthems blare around the arena, Daniel Wells and Ben Woollaston stride out for their match.

Lilley drains a red and a brown, but no more. Both are chuckling a bit as they bash the final few shots around - the balls are not running kindly at all - and that will do us.

It's a big lead for Grace as he runs out of reds to pot and plays safe. Lilley just can't get a look at a red to get in, and with under two minutes on the clock now this one is surely done.

Grace gets back in with a long red to the bottom right, and as we pass the halfway point he moves 30 points in front. A good recovery pink kept his break under control there, and with reds in the open he just needs to eat up the clock and keep the lead ticking upwards. Lilley can only look on, and there are just four minutes to go.

Lilley breaks after Grace wins the lag. It's a nightmare start for Lilley as he drains a nice long red but goes in-off, gifting ball in hand to Grace. It's a useful chance but Grace only makes nine from it, eventually submitting to a losing battle for decent position. We're three minutes in.

It's Grace against Lilley, incoming.

This is where the bar is folks. Michael empties the table for a brilliant 91, signing off by doubling the black into the yellow pocket. Magnificent stuff!

He's pretty, pretty good at this format of the game. Michael drops in frame ball red with three minutes to go, and this one is over. It's impressive stuff, and he's going to take a bit of beating tonight.

Another 22 from Michael extends the lead, and again Zhengyi comes to the table with nothing to go at. We're halfway through and the Hitman has a commanding lead; it's about to extend, as Zhengyi misses a long red and leaves Michael in.

Michael breaks, and leaves a red to left middle that Zhengyi can't convert. In response Michael snags the same red to right middle, and he's off. A swift 13 points follows before he snookers Zhengyi behind the yellow; Zhengyi escapes, but he's left Michael in again.

We've got Snooker Shoot Out royalty in the house next. Michael Holt was been a winner and runner-up in this event in the past, and has won more games at this event than any other player. He'll be taking on Fan Zhengyi.

Dominic dishes up to the final red, and puts it safe with a 27 point advantage. Asjad eventually leaves the red over the green pocket, and a few pots later it's all over. I don't blame Dominic for being a bit put out by the decision against him mid-frame; he was listening to the countdown beeps, which seemed out of time with the shot clock. No harm done to him though, as he's through to the evening.

The Spaceman is not too chuffed about that. Asjad takes the lead, but misses a black to bottom right badly and Dominic is back in with a plant. The lead see-saws back to him; can Dominic compose himself for the next two minutes and see this through?

It's a jittery start from both players as they miss their opening pot attempts. Dominic then pulls out a show-stopping plant to convert a red over the bottom left, and he's away. He's grinning at the chirps from a boisterous crowd in here today, and at the halfway stage in the frame he's on 21 and counting. He's not got long to play this blue to middle though, is this going to stand? The frame is paused and it's going to VAR - oh joy of sport! It takes a few minutes...and our referee Mark King concludes Dominic didn't strike it in time! That's five and ball in hand to Asjad.

How do you like this? It's 2014 Shoot Out Winner Dominic Dale against Asjad Iqbal! Dominic wins the lag, and Asjad breaks.

Vladislav can only watch as Tom mops up. The highest break prize is briefly under threat, until Tom misses the final red long to end his break in 91. Vladislav comes back and gets huge cheers as he wallops down everything up to the black. I dare say we'll be seeing much more of him in the future.

A recovery red, mid-range to the bottom right, keeps Tom's break chugging. A later red furiously rattles in the same pocket before dropping, and as the ten second shot clock starts Tom notches the half-ton. This is methodical stuff. For someone who openly admits to being nervous in this format, he's taken these points very calmly.

There's some fans in here for Tom too, as a local Leicester boy. He breaks, and within a few shots Vladislav launches a superb red long into the bottom right. 'Sweet as the sweetest bun in the baker's shop!' says Angles. Vladislav can't follow up with the green though, and he's left Tom in. It's 23 and counting already, and there could be a heavy visit on the way given the spread of reds.

Tom Ford will now take on the 14-year-old prodigy Vladislav Gradinari. What a day for the young lad this is.

Julien makes 37, and leaves Fergal 18 seconds to get back into it. When Fergal misses a red from distance he waves it off immediately.

Another good safety from Julien forces an error from Fergal, who leaves a red on short to the bottom right and this is a real chance. It's a good spread of reds to go at, and all he needs to do now is hold his nerve for a few stun shots and he'll win it; Julien hits the front with one minute to go.

A loose safety from Julien leaves Fergal a mid-range red, and a chance to score. A quick 20 follows before he loses position, and as the ten second shot rule kicks in Fergal drops the white safe in baulk. Julien later gets a solitary red down, followed by another, but can't manufacture a scoring chance off either. Three minutes to go, and this is still wide open.

In co-comms, Angles McManus notes that Leclercq is built like a light-heavyweight boxer. It's shadow boxing from both players for the first few minutes, until Fergal plays a containing safety and flukes a red into the green pocket. No colour follows, and the safety exchange continues. This is the snooker equivalent of one-nil to the Arsenal.

Here come Fergal O'Brien and Julien Leclercq. The lag is won by Julien, and Fergal will get us going.

What an effort from Ali! He knows he needs 117 for the highest break prize, which carries a value of five lovely grand. He stats on the black for the final few reds, before racing around the table to dish the colours in 42 seconds, culminating in the black flying down with a second to go. Ali punches the air, as well he might; what a start to the day!

There goes frame ball red into the right middle, and with two and a half minutes to go in this one it's over. A calm, assured visit here from the Captain.

This looks ominous for Yupeng, as the ten second shot clock kicks in. Ali's added 26 and counting already and there's still an absolute load on, which he's taking very calmly indeed. A half-ton looks inevitable, and the prospect of another shot for Yupeng feels remote.

Ali drains a long red, with a black to follow, before going back to baulk with no pot on. We've got a lively old crowd in the arena today, by the way. Several minutes of cagey safety follow, before Ali misses a long red, leaves the white in the south of the table and Yupeng picks off a superb plant. There's a foul in there though, so it's four and position to Ali.

Our MC Tahir Hajat brings out the first two players - it's Cao Yupeng against Ali Carter, and Ali wins the lag. Yupeng will break.

We'll be doing the entire round of 32 over the next few hours, whittling the field down to 16 ahead of the dash to the winning line this evening.

Joining Rachel Casey in the Eurosport studio today are The Whirlwind, one James Warren White, and Reanne Evans, the twelve-time women's world champion who became the first woman to win a televised ranking event match when she beat Stuart Bingham here a few days ago. Both of these icons are buzzing for the finale of the Shoot Out today, and so am I.

It’s finals day at the 2023 Snooker Shoot Out in Leicester. There are 32 players left in the draw, including four former winners; at around 11pm tonight there will be just one left. What a swag they’ll be walking off with too; the trophy, fifty large and a pass into the Champion of Champions tournament next season. Let’s get tucked in and see how this all plays out.

Riley Powell’s dream Snooker Shoot Out debut came to an end at the hands of Daniel Wells, but his fellow 14-year-old Vladislav Gradinari claimed a place in finals day with victory over Victor Sarkis.

Dechawat Poomjaeng's star continued to rise at the Shoot Out, and he moved into finals day with victory over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, but Reanne Evans' hopes were dashed by Gary Wilson.

The 14-year-old Powell, who plays his snooker at Mark Williams’ club in Tredegar, announced himself on the world stage when beating former World Championship finalist Kyren Wilson in round one.

He spoke confidently about his future in the game prior to taking on Wells, saying his aims were to be “world No. 1, world champion. I want to win everything I can.”

Reaching the last 32 proved beyond Powell, as Wells largely shut the youngster down.

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Stream the 2023 Snooker Shoot Out and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk