MICHAEL GEORGIOU has claimed his first ranking title as the 2018 Coral Snooker Shootout Champion in Watford in London.

Georgiou, 30, defeated Graeme Dott in a nail-biting final thriller which saw Georgiou cruise ahead with a 50 plus break before having to sit and prey that Graeme Dott, a former World Champion, wouldn't make a clearance to steal the match from his grasp.

But Dott's valiant comeback didn't materialise and it was Georgiou who potted a final pink to sink Dott, who had reached his second ranking final in the space of seven days after losing to Mark Williams in the final in Berlin at the German Masters

Georgiou said after on ITV4 Sport that it hadn't yet quite sunk in, but in a couple of days, it probably would.

Dott said he would take the positives of being in two ranking finals, but was disappointed not to have gone all the way with one.

Big rewards

His victory seals him a place in the next event on the calendar, the World Grand Prix and, potentially, a Champion Of Champions place later on in the year, where the Cypriot would have a chance at winning a £100,000 prize.

He took home £32K for the win in Watford.

Here are five other highlights from the Shootout:

2) Michael Georgiou's Impressive 109

Georgiou also racked the highest break of the tournament, a 109, nicking £2,000 off semi-finalist Mark Davis, who had made a ton in the very first frame of the event knocking out Anthony McGill.

3) Sunny Akani's Valiant 95

As well as Georgiou's impressive ton in the event, Akani Songsermsawad also impressed in the event with a gutsy 95 break - given that he has what some people call an odd 'pre-shot routine'.

Akani reached the last 8 of the event.

4) Blue Ball Shootout X3

There were three incredible blue ball shootouts in the event in which two involved the same player - Joe Perry.

He first had one with Mark Williams in the last 16 - where Perry potted his blue as sweet as a nut, but Williams floated his in as he normally does, but missed.

Williams has been on a roll since his Northern Irish Open win last year and German Masters victory but only seven days ago.

Perry then had a titanic tussle with his other tour pal Mark Davis, and this time it was Perry who missed a blue from the spot in the last 8.

5) Martin O'Donnell - Home Favourite

Home favourite Martin O'Donnell made an amazing run to the semi-finals of the event but came up against an unbeatable Georgiou.

Georgiou shoots up to 59th in the World rankings, although his play suggests he is a much better player than the rankings suggest.

O'Donnell goes up to 84th from 91.

High Stakes

6) Should the Shootout be a Ranking Event?

The age-old debate continues to run, but, yes it should, because...

A) The lower-ranked players get a chance for some exposure on TV...and it's nice for fans to see players who they don't get to see that often on TV.

B) They have the chance out of 128 players to get some ranking points under their belt that could prove vital at the end of the season.

However, Martin O'Donnell said in commentary with Clive Everton that maybe the event would be better off at the beginning of the season when the players are starting out - so that the lower ranked players got some points under their belt.

C) There's more than just winning a ranking event at stake.

There's a potential place in the Champion of Champions and as highlighted by Georgiou's win, he''s also now into the World Grand Prix in Preston in a week's time. Even if Georgiou loses in the first round, he's pocketed an extra £5,000 for turning up!

D) Sport is about testing people to their limit.

In snooker, you not only have to play your opponent, you have to play yourself, plus the balls.

The Snooker Shootout tests a player's limit, because, there's an extra opponent you are playing, namely, the shot clock!

In the World Grand Prix, Michael Georgiou will play the Belgian Bullet Luca Brecel in the first round.

The winner of the WGP will take home £100K.
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