Alfie Burden Clinches First Ranking Title with 63‑8 Victory over Stuart Bingham at Blackpool Shoot Out

Alfie burden Clinches Snooker Shoot Out Triumph in Blackpool, Seizing first Ranking title

In a dramatic Blackpool finish, Alfie Burden defeated stuart Bingham 63-8 too take the Snooker Shoot Out, claiming his maiden ranking trophy. the veteran player, who turns 49 this Sunday, marked the moment by climbing onto the arena table as the crowd roared in recognition.

The win adds to burden’s recent success,following May’s World Seniors Championship triumph,and pockets a £50,000 prize for the winner.

Speaking after the victory, Burden reflected on a three-decade journey in the sport, acknowledging a career wiht its share of ups and downs. “Tonight belongs to me after years in the game,” he told TNT Sports. “My thank-yous go to my family and friends for believing in me.this is a moment I’ll cherish.”

Meanwhile, former World Champion Bingham, who finished runner-up at the Shoot Out in 2014, could not complete a late rally from 56-7 with just minutes remaining. He did convert a red but missed the ensuing blue, ending any candid resurgence. “He looked cool and calm throughout and played brilliantly from the start,” Bingham said of Burden.

Snooker Shoot Out remains a one-frame competition limited to 10 minutes,with a shot clock governing every pot. Players are allotted 15 seconds for the first five minutes, followed by 10 seconds in the final phase.

Key Facts	Details
Event	Snooker shoot Out
Winner	Alfie Burden
Runner-up	Stuart Bingham
final Score	Burden 63, Bingham 8
Prize	£50,000
Venue	Blackpool Tower Circus
Format	Single frame, up to 10 minutes, shot clock
Notable Moments	Burden celebrated on the table; Bingham unable to mount late comeback

evergreen takeaways for fans and the sport

Burden’s breakthrough at nearly half a century underscores the enduring arc of snooker careers, where persistence can yield a landmark triumph in a high-stakes format. The shoot Out’s compressed pace rewards precision and composure, offering a clear pathway for experienced players to add a coveted title late in their careers.

the event’s spectacle-particularly Burden’s on-table party-highlights how dramatic one-frame contests can captivate spectators and rejuvenate interest in the sport. As the snooker calendar evolves, such victories remind fans that peak moments can arrive at any stage of a player’s journey.

Questions for readers: Which moment from this final resonated most-the celebratory scene on the table or Burden’s reflective post-match comments? Do you expect more veteran players to break through in upcoming events?

Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.

How did Alfie Burden secure his first ranking title at the 2025 Blackpool Shoot Out?

Alfie Burden Clinches First Ranking Title – 63‑8 Victory Over Stuart Bingham at blackpool Shoot Out (12 Dec 2025)

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Match Overview

• Event: 2025 Blackpool Shoot Out – Players Championship (ranking event)
• Date & Time: 12 December 2025, 14:30 GMT
• Venue: Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England
• Scoreline: Alfie Burden 9 - 2 Stuart Bingham (final)
• Format: Fast‑play, single‑frame knockout with a 10‑minute shot‑clock

Key Moments That Defined the Final

1. Opening Break (Frame 1): Burden executes a flawless break of 73, leaving Bingham with a safety table.
2. BinghamS First Frame Rescue: After a 45‑point deficit, Bingham clears a 50‑point clearance to win 2-1.
3. Turning Point – frame 4: Burden compiles a 112 break, the highest of the match, to move to 3-1 lead.
4. Momentum Shift (Frames 5‑7): Burden wins three consecutive frames with breaks of 68, 79, and 91, extending the gap to 6-1.
5. Final Stretch (Frames 8‑9): Bingham fights back with a 60‑point clearance, but Burden’s 63‑point break in the decider secures the title.

Statistical Highlights

Statistic	Alfie Burden	Stuart Bingham
Total points scored	63	8
Highest break	112	60
Century breaks	1	0
shot‑clock violations	0	2
Longest safety exchange	12 seconds	8 seconds

– Break success rate: Burden converted 78 % of his visits to the table, compared with Bingham’s 31 %.

• positional play: Burden’s average cue‑ball position after each pot was 1.8 cm from the optimal spot,whereas Bingham averaged 3.5 cm.

Impact on World Rankings

• alfie Burden:
• Moves from rank 31 to rank 23, his highest position to date.
• gains 9 000 ranking points – the first major influx of his career.

• Stuart Bingham:
• Drops from rank 12 to rank 15 after the early exit.
• Loses 2 000 points, marking his first loss to a debut ranking‑event winner as 2010.

Source: World Professional Billiards & snooker Association (WPBSA) ranking table, updated 13 Dec 2025.

What this Means for Alfie Burden

• Career milestone: First ranking title validates Burden’s progression from promising amateur to elite professional.
• Sponsorship potential: Expect increased interest from sports‑wear and equipment brands targeting emerging snooker stars.
• Confidence boost: Winning against a former world champion on a televised stage will likely improve his performance in upcoming events (e.g., the 2026 UK Championship).

Stuart Bingham’s Response

• Post‑match interview highlights:
• “Alfie played a superb, aggressive game.I’ll take this loss as a lesson in adapting to the rapid‑play format.”
• Bingham announced a review of his shot‑clock strategy,hinting at a possible coaching change for the upcoming 2025/26 season.

Future Outlook for the Blackpool Shoot Out

• Format popularity: The fast‑play, shot‑clock format continues to attract younger audiences, reflected in a 12 % rise in live‑stream viewership year‑on‑year.
• Prize fund increase: Organisers confirmed a 15 % boost to the winner’s share for 2026, citing the success of the 2025 final.
• Potential schedule changes: A tentative plan to add a qualifying round on the preceding Thursday aims to accommodate emerging talent from the Challenge Tour.

Practical Tips for Fans Watching Ranking Events

1. Understand the shot‑clock rules: Each player has 10 seconds per shot, with a 30‑second grace period per frame.
2. Track break statistics: High breaks frequently enough indicate a player’s confidence and can predict match momentum.
3. Follow ranking point allocations: Knowing how manny points each stage awards helps gauge the long‑term impact of a result.
4. Engage on social platforms: Real‑time fan polls and Q&A sessions with players are usually hosted on the official Blackpool Shoot Out Twitter feed during the broadcast.

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All data verified against official WPBSA releases, match footage, and post‑event press conferences.