Snooker Shoot-out betting previews and tips

The fast-format action starts on Thursday with the final on Sunday at the Watford Colosseum.

Robin Hull is the defending champion in the 128-player field but the one-format nature of the event gives hope to all.

Here's our betting preview of the tournament which will be televised live in the UK on ITV4.

Snooker Shoot Out: Best bets

0.5pt e.w. Liang Wenbo at 33/1 (Paddy Power, 1/4 1,2,3,4) - won his first ranking title this season and is a player currently full of confidence

0.5pt e.w. Martin Gould at 40/1 (Paddy Power, 1/4 1,2,3,4) - a past winner of the event whose game is in good shape at the moment

0.5pt e.w. Michael Holt at 50/1 (Marathon Bet, 1/4 1,2,3,4) - has all the attributes needed to win the title and looks a good 'dark horse'

You could compare snooker's Shoot Out tournament to cricket's Twenty20 format.

It's based on the original game, but some tweaks to the existing rules means it is considerably shorter in duration and organisers ultimately hope it will attract new fans to the game.

Snooker's first Shoot Out was held in Stoke back in 1990, when Darren Morgan beat Mike Hallett, but it proved to be a one-off event.

However, it was resurrected in 2011 and this week's edition in Watford will be the first time it has been granted the status of a ranking event.

That decision raised more than a few eyebrows, with some of the game's top players questioning it.

Triple-crown winner Neil Roberston wrote on Twitter at the time: "Absolutely nuts. A huge slap in the face to any player who has actually won a proper ranking event."

But like it or loathe it, it looks as though the Shoot Out is here to stay.

Here is a recap of the key rules:

• Every frame lasts 10 minutes.
• There is a shot clock.
• Players must hit a cushion or pot a ball with every shot.
• All fouls result in ball in hand.
• Players 'lag' for who breaks off.
• In an event of a tie the blue ball shoot-out determines the winner.

All this makes it a very difficult event to predict and when you consider past winners have been Nigel Bond, Barry Hawkins, Martin Gould, Dominic Dale, Michael White and Robin Hull then literally anyone is capable of winning it.

Hawkins is his year's favourite and you can get 20/1 on him, so it's as open as fields get in snooker.

There are some big names not in the field, including Robertson, Ronnie O'Sullivan and world number one Mark Selby but this will not make it any easier for the 128 players who are taking part.

To do well in this event, I believe you need a player who is naturally quick around the table, a reliable potter, one who can cope with what is always a raucous atmosphere - and a huge slice of luck.

I can't guarantee the latter but I'm going to pick out three players who hopefully will give us a run for our money, especially with some firms giving quarter odds on the top-four places - a route I'm keen to go down. To get a player into the semi-finals will warrant some sort of reward.

Liang Wenbo

The kind of maverick player who could thrive in this event and one who certainly loves interaction with the crowd. Liang is a fantastic long potter and prolific among the balls. He won his first ranking title this year when he lifted the English Open trophy in Manchester and was also a semi-finalist at the recent Word Grand Prix so is full of confidence.

Martin Gould

Winner of the event in 2013 and the only man to win a final with a century break as he beat Mark Allen 104-0. Impressed recently by reaching the semi-finals of the German Masters, where he was the defending champion, and certainly has the solid game needed to cope with the demanding playing conditions.

Michael Holt

Like the other two selections, Holt is a top cueman and scores heavily when given the opportunity. Enjoys banter with the crowd, which should serve him well here, and has had a decent season after reaching the final of the Riga Masters as well as four other quarter-finals. One of those players I feel has a ranking tournament win in him.

Posted at 1930 GMT on 21/02/17.