EPSB Quartet Learn Snooker Shoot Out Draw

The draw for the 2025 9Club Snooker Shoot Out has been made with EPSB nominees Vladislav Gradinari, Kaylan Patel, Ethan Llewellyn and Ellise Scott among the line-up.

• Full Draw

The quartet will compete alongside the biggest names in the sport at the Tower Circus in Blackpool as WPBSA nominations for their achievements at national and international events.

In one of the standout ties of the opening round, 14-year-old former English Women’s Championship runner-up Scott will face reigning World Women’s Snooker champion Bai Yulu in only the second ever all-female ranking event contest on the World Snooker Tour.

Following the draw, Scott said: “I’m very excited [to be playing at the Shoot Out], I was nervous when I found out who I was playing, but since I know her, I feel more confident because I’ve seen her at women’s competitions and I will feel more comfortable.”

“I think it will suit me. I am a fast player so it will be a lot of fun to play at the Shoot Out. It will be a good game. I like watching it because it’s 10 minutes, not an hour-long game but it’s still challenging. The players are attacking, they don’t want to play safe because they need the points, so I’m looking forward to it” she added.

Gradinari, who received a nomination as the reigning English Under-18 champion, has drawn fellow teenager Artemijs Zizins who became the first ever professional player from Latvia in 2024.

The Asian duo of Wang Yuchen, from Hong Kong China, and China’s Yao Pengcheng take on Patel and Llewellyn at the Tower Circus.

Patel, who qualified as a result of reaching the World Snooker Federation (WSF) Junior Championship earlier this year, will take on Wang – who is yet to win a match at the event in three previous attempts.

Teenager Llewellyn, meanwhile, will meet fellow Shoot Out debutant Yao in the opening round after earning a nomination as the EBSA European Under-18 Championship runner-up.

The 9Club Snooker Shoot Out will take place on 10-13 December and features a unique set of rules, with all matches played over a maximum of ten minutes, and a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and ten seconds for the last five.

Tickets for the four-day tournament are on sale now and offer the chance to see a wide range of top players and experience the unique atmosphere which only this event can offer. For details click here.