In one of the most extraordinary stories in snooker history, amateur substitute Alfie Burden won the 2025 Snooker Shoot Out at the Blackpool Tower Circus, defeating Stuart Bingham 63–8 in the final to claim the first ranking title of his 30-year career—the day before his 49th birthday.
Burden was only called up on the morning of round one after Alex Clenshaw withdrew. He was about to jump into a swimming pool when he noticed a missed call from the World Snooker Tour—and within hours was on the M1 to Blackpool. Four days later, he was lifting the trophy. His dominant final performance, built around a swashbuckling break of 56, gave Bingham no chance as Burden sealed a resounding victory.
At 48 years and 364 days, Burden becomes the oldest maiden ranking event winner in history, surpassing Doug Mountjoy’s record from the 1988 UK Championship. He is also just the second player to win a ranking event as an amateur, following Zhao Xintong at the 2025 World Championship. The £50,000 winner’s prize puts Burden in a strong position to reclaim his professional tour card at the end of the season.
The event also featured four century breaks, headlined by Wu Yize’s 141—remarkable scoring in a format where each frame lasts a maximum of ten minutes. But the Shoot Out belonged entirely to Burden, whose fairy tale journey from last-minute substitute to ranking event champion will live long in the memory.
Key facts:
Venue: Blackpool Tower Circus, Blackpool
Dates: 10–13 December 2025
Final score: Alfie Burden 63–8 Stuart Bingham
Winner’s prize: £50,000 (ranking event)
