World Snooker Shoot-Out 2011 betting
Snooker boss Barry Hearn has promised non-stop, breathtaking action involving the world's top 64 players taking part in the World Snooker Shoot-Out which will be held in Blackpool from January 28.
The tournament, which had a random draw, will feature a 20-second shot clock and frames will not be allowed to take more than 12 minutes.
The event will run from 28 to 30 January in Blackpool and will be screened live on Sky. It promises to be one of the highlights of the season and offers incredible betting potential.
Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan, legends Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Jimmy White and current world champion Neil Robertson will be among the green baize kings taking part in one of the new fixtures on the snooker calendar.
Results will, naturally, come thick and fast and the odds will be changing just as quickly all the way through to the final.
Strap yourself in and prepare for one of the highlights of the sporting year. The top 64 players in the world are all among the draw and there are some cracking matches in the first round including Ronnie O'Sullivan v Marco Fu, Whirlwind Jimmy White against Ali Carter and former world champions John Higgins and Mark Williams going head to head. The winner of each match goes through to the next round and doubles his prize money - with the winner of the final scheduled to go home with £32,000 - while the loser will have to exit via the walk-of shame. It’s not snooker as we’ve seen it before, certainly not in the UK, but it will create a bundle of opportunities for those used to quick-fire betting.
Of course, it’ll also be great fun for the internet bettor who is prepared to be bold with his predictions, for it offers a chance to conjure with rapidly changing odds and prices as the fixtures come thick and fast.
Already punters are examining the history of the game and which players currently at the top of the standings who are best capable of making quick decisions and quick shots; it’s these guys who could turn out to be the final winner.
Most sports writers have little doubt the format will be a winner among spectators and the betting community. One observed: "Snooker has been crying out for change in recent years and Barry Hearn is delivering. This promises to be great drama, for who will top the standings after the final ball has been sunk is anyone's guess, and that's why it is a perfect competition for a bet. For a start, online bookmakers will be offering dozens of free bets to get people involved and the sheer speed of the tournament means results will affect the odds on an hourly basis.
"It's perfect for the predictor who may have grown bored with snooker in recent years and represents another huge step forward for the sport. I suppose you could say it's the Twenty20 of world snooker, but it’s no less important and the quick-fire nature makes it attractive for those who enjoy staking a succession of modest bets and following the action at the same time.
“It’s easy to follow too. Lose one frame and you go home. Brilliant, and bets on the likes of the Rocket to progress all the way to the final will be well supported. But we can guarantee some unexpected results too.
"Because it is such a new competition, boasting no history and having no form guide, punters who fancy getting involved might be best served using a free bet from their online bookmaker. However, we will soon see which players are best suited to this style of snooker competition, and I imagine that's when bets will increase in value and in volume.”