Mark Williams to face crowd favourite Dechawat Poomjaeng in third round of Snooker Shoot Out

The Snooker Shoot Out has sprinkled some stardust in the draw for the third round, with Mark Williams paired with Dechawat Poomjaeng.

Williams, last year’s beaten finalist, is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, with the Welshman at seven in the world.

Poomjaeng is way down the rankings, having only got back on the tour at the end of last year following a lengthy absence.

And the pair have been pulled out to face each other in what is the undoubted tie of the last 32 – with it being the final match on in the session.

“They have done that right to put that on last,” Jimmy White said in the Eurosport studio. “That will be absolutely fabulous.

“You will have the crowd completely revved up, and I cannot wait for that game.”

The hope is that Poomjaeng has a clear head, as he was seen enjoying himself in the crowd following his win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Reanne Evans’ conqueror Gary Wilson has been pulled out to face Zhou Yuelong.

Dominic Dale remains one of the most popular players on tour and his reward for beating Ken Doherty is a meeting with Asjad Iqbal, while Michael Holt – the Shoot Out winner in 2020 – will take on Fan Zhengyi.

Julien Leclercq has been given the moniker of the Belgian Beast, and he will have to fight his way past the experienced campaigner that is Fergal O’Brien.

Jack Lisowski is still hunting a breakthrough title win and after beating Adam Duffy, veteran Mark Davis is standing in his way of a spot in the last 16.

Third Round Draw

• 13:00 – Cao Yupeng v Ali Carter
• 13:10 – Fergal O’Brien v Julien Leclercq
• 13:20 – Tom Ford v Vladislav Gradinari
• 13:30 – Dominic Dale v Asjad Iqbal
• 13:40 – Fan Zhengyi v Michael Holt
• 13:50 – David Grace v David Lilley
• 14:00 – Daniel Wells v Ben Woollaston
• 14:10 – Michael White v Alexander Ursenbacher
• 14:20 – Joe Perry v Chris Wakelin
• 14:30 – Jak Jones v Xu Si
• 14:40 – Lukas Kleckers v Yuan Sijun
• 14:50 – Zhou Yuelong v Gary Wilson
• 15:00 – Dylan Emery v Noppon Saengkham
• 15:10 – Liam Highfield v Martin Gould
• 15:20 – Mark Davis v Jack Lisowski
• 15:30 – Mark Williams v Dechawat Poomjaeng

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