Jubilant Burden Wins First Ranking Title at Shoot Out
Alfie Burden didn’t even know he had a place in the 9Club Shoot Out on the day the tournament started, but he ended up with the trophy, beating Stuart Bingham in the final to land his first ranking title, 30 years after first turning pro.
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Burden was relegated from the pro tour at the end of last season and, having finished 20th on the Q School ‘top-up’ list did not expect to be offered a place in the unique one-frame knockout tournament. He was about to jump into a swimming pool on Wednesday morning at 9.30am when he had a call from WST’s Bristol office to tell him that Alex Clenshaw had pulled out, and there was a spot in the draw for him if he could drive from London to Blackpool in time for the afternoon session.
He was at the venue within five hours and went on to win seven matches to capture the biggest title of a career which started in 1994. Burden, who turns 49 on Sunday, also won the World Seniors title earlier this year, but tonight’s triumph is by far the biggest moment of his life in snooker.
The former world number 38 had never previously been beyond the quarter-finals of a ranking event but now becomes the only amateur to win a ranking title other than Zhao Xintong who was crowned World Champion this year. The £50,000 top prize is by far the biggest of his career and could be enough to regain his place on tour next season via the one-year ranking list. The tenth different winner in ten ranking events so far this season, he is also in line for a place in next year’s Champion of Champions.
Former World Champion Bingham, seeking his first title since lifting the Masters trophy in 2020, had first chance in the final but made just 6 before missing a mid range red. Burden opened up the pack immediately and went on to make an excellent break of 56. Bingham had one more opportunity to counter but potted just one red before missing a long blue and the handshake soon followed, before Burden jumped on to the table to celebrate.
“I can’t believe I have won it,” said Burden, who was a promising footballer for Arsenal in his junior days before switching to snooker after a serious knee injury. “On Wednesday morning I went for a swim and I only had my phone with me because I have lost my locker key at the gym. I was walking out to the swimming pool and I looked at my phone and saw I had a missed call. I rang back and found out I had a place in the Shoot Out. I got changed, dashed to the snooker club to get my cue, dashed home to get my trousers and shoes, then I was on the M1.
“From the start I have played well. Everything fell into place for me. I am a ranking event winner now and that is something I am very proud of. After dropping off the tour last season I found myself in the wilderness. I have had no motivation to play on the Q Tour, I turned up for a few events in terrible shape having not practised. Then a couple of weeks ago I went to the one in Bulgaria with a new cue and got to the semi-finals. Now I am hoping this win will get me back on the tour.
“I was a pro for a long time, I first joined the tour when I was 17. I still have a lot to offer snooker, I am hungry, I love the game and I have people who believe in me. I have a great family and friends, a great mentor in Patsy Fagan. It has been a difficult career, I am not going to lie. Snooker is a very tough sport mentally. There have been a lot more downs than ups, but this is a moment I will cherish. I can’t wait to see my children tomorrow, they have always supported me – this is for them.”
Earlier in the semi-finals, Bingham edged out Iulian Boiko in an exciting finish. Ukraine’s Boiko, enjoying his best run in a ranking event, trailed 44-35 with 40 seconds to go when he missed the pink to a centre pocket, needing just three pots for victory. Burden beat Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham with a break of 73.
