2026 Snooker Shoot Out
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9–12 December 2026 |
| Venue | Tower Circus |
| City | Blackpool |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | World Snooker Tour |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £213,000 |
| Winner's share | £50,000 |
| Defending champion |  Alfie Burden (ENG) |
← 2025 | |
The 2026 Snooker Shoot Out (officially the 2026 TAOM Shoot Out)[1] is an upcoming professional snooker tournament that will take place from 9 to 12 December 2026 at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England.[2] The 17th consecutive edition of the tournament since it was revived in 2011, it is the 10th ranking event of the 2026–27 season, following the 2026 UK Championship and preceding the 2026 Scottish Open.
The tournament is played under a variation of the standard rules of snooker, with each match contested over a single frame, lasting a maximum of 10 minutes. Alfie Burden is the defending champion, having defeated Stuart Bingham 63–8 in the 2025 final.
Overview
The tournament is the eighteenth edition of the Snooker Shoot Out, first held as a non‑ranking event in 1990 before being revived in 2011 and since then having been held annually. It was promoted to a ranking event starting with the 2017 edition.
Format
The tournament will be played using a variation of the traditional snooker rules, and the draw for each round will be randomised before. All matches are played over a single frame, each of which lasts up to 10 minutes. The event features a variable shot clock; players are allowed 15 seconds per shot during the first five minutes and 10 seconds per shot during the final five minutes. The player with the most points after the time runs out or after all balls have been pocketed (or after a foul on the final black) will win the match. All foul shots results in the opponent receiving a ball in hand. Unlike traditional snooker, a foul is called if a ball did not either hit a cushion or enter a pocket on every shot. Rather than a coin toss, a lag is used to determine which player broke off. In the event of a draw, the frame is decided by a "blue ball shootout". With the cue ball placed inside the "D" and the blue ball on its spot, the players will alternate shots until one player has potted the blue more times than their opponent from an equal number of attempts.[3]
Amateur nominations
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association will be nominating several amateur players to participate in the tournament, alongside other amateurs and professionals.
Prize fund
The prize fund for the tournament is shown below. While the winners' cheque is still £50,000, the overall prize fund in the tournament has increased £42,000 from previous years:[4]
- Winner: £50,000
- Runner-up: £22,000
- Semi-final: £12,000
- Quarter-final: £6,000
- Last 16: £3,000
- Last 32: £1,500
- Last 64: £750
- Last 128: £250 (Players losing in the first round do not gain any ranking points)
- Highest break: £5,000
- Total: £213,000
References
- ↑ "TAOM Extends WST Partnership And Becomes Shoot Out Title Partner". World Snooker Tour. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Shoot Out". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "Rules of the Game | WPBSA | Snooker and English Billiards". WPBSA. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "TAOM Shoot Out Prize Money Increase". World Snooker Tour. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.