Shoot-out hailed a success

A packed arena and a smile on every player's face. That is the a sign of a very good weekend for snooker.

Like with any new concept in our great game, there always comes a level of scepticism.

But anyone who walks away from Blackpool, or switches their television off having not enjoyed that, must be in the minority.

Whether people like it or not, snooker is undergoing transition right now. Events like this quickfire Shoot-Out have been designed to draw in a bigger crowd and new fans to the sport. They aren't there to undermine the tradition of the game, but simply move it forward, and make sure it evolves in a market where entertainment matters.

And it's certainly working.

There was plenty of noise from the fans, the player's loved it, and the quality of play wasn't sacrificed either. I dipped in and out of the action over the weekend, which is probably how it's intended to be viewed. And I thought the event was a roaring success, as do many of my peers.

In a way, it didn't really matter who won this tournament. The real winner was snooker.

But we shouldn't take any limelight off of the champion. Nigel Bond rolled back the years to beat Robert Milkins in the final and lift the trophy.

It's great to see one of the old guard back at the top, and having fun to boot. The same can be said about a lot of his fellow professionals too.

I have no doubt this event will be back next year. Top stuff!