Snooker Shoot Out 2023: Mark Allen eases past Ben Woollaston, Mark Davis knocks out Baipat Siripaporn

The Northern Irishman kicked off the evening session on day one against Woollaston and had to come from behind to advance.

Allen got the first real chance but could only make nine and coughed up a simple opener for his opponent approaching the halfway mark.

But Woollaston saw his break end on 15 and Allen made him pay, potting a stunning red to get back among the balls en route to a 52-15 win.

“It’s just chaos every year, no matter how many times you keep coming back here it just doesn’t get any easier,” Allen said.

“You feel like you’ve lost, you feel like you’ve won, and you just never know where you stand.”

The Northern Irishman added: “That’s part and parcel of the competition. It is chaotic, it is manic, it does weird things with your brain, but that’s why we all keep coming back.

“It’s a complete lottery but it is a lot of fun and you have to treat it for what it is.”

Wales’ Michael White, the 2015 Shoot Out champion, entered the Swansea Arena next to take on Mohamed Ibrahim.

There were some signs of nerves from both men until White made a brilliant break of 92 to ease through.

The all-English clash between Oliver Brown and Allan Taylor was an edgy affair. Both missed a raft of chances, but it was Brown who prevailed after recovering from 20 points behind to win 35-33.

Up next, Xing Zihao pulled off some exceptional shots to establish a 30-point lead, but it was Xu Si who timed his comeback to perfection to advance to the round of 64 courtesy of a 42-31 victory.

Mark Davis made a 50 to grab the early initiative against reigning world women’s snooker champion Baipat Siripaporn and eventually triumphed 94-8.

A frantic finish in the contest between Manasawin Phetmalaikul and Mostafa Dorgham saw the former come up a point short as he raced round the table before being timed out.