Tom Ford Claims First Ranking Title at Snooker Shoot Out

Tom Ford, visibly emotional, secured his inaugural ranking title by defeating Liam Graham in the Snooker Shoot Out, held in his hometown of Leicester. Ford had advanced from his semi-final match after winning on a respotted blue when the scores were tied. The 41-year-old, who had previously finished as runner-up on three occasions in ranking events, narrowly won the final with a score of 31-28, claiming the £50,000 top prize. Ford was tearful as he dedicated his triumph to his sponsor, Brian Todd, who had passed away recently. “I lost my sponsor and really good friend a few weeks ago and went to his funeral on Wednesday and that was really difficult,” Ford said. World number 22 Ford staged a comeback from an 8-28 deficit against the 20-year-old Scottish player Graham, who holds a world ranking of 100. “To win on my home turf is absolutely brilliant,” Ford remarked. The Snooker Shoot Out competition features a single-frame format, with each match lasting a maximum of 10 minutes and players subject to a shot clock. In the semi-finals, Graham overcame fellow Leicester player and four-time world champion Mark Selby with a score of 38-20, while Ford secured his spot in the final by defeating China’s Wu Yize 37-32, also on a respotted blue.