Captain eyes Shoot Out cash

Ali Carter is relishing the prospect of earning £32,000 for just an hour's work at the inaugural Snooker Shoot Out at Blackpool, starting Friday live on Sky Sports.

A £32,000 jackpot at the Caesarscasino.com Snooker Shoot-Out is on offer this weekend, in a new one-frame knockout competition between the world's top 64 players.

The likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Steve Davis will be battling for the top prize at the Circus Arena in Blackpool.

Players start off with £500 and double their money with every win, with the total prize fund standing at £130,000.

Carter, known as the captain for obtaining his pilot's license, is excited about the new format being involved at the weekend, and it could be a very worthwhile trip to the seaside.

Easy money

"It's ten minutes a frame and I'd need to win six matches in all, so that could be £32,000 for an hour's work!" said Carter.

"That's the best way to look at the event - to treat it like a bit of fun, knowing you've got a chance of winning.

"You can't approach it in the same way as the World Championship because you could break off, see the other guy make it big break and then go home."

The tournament will receive extensive live television coverage from Sky Sports. Players will be given 'ball in hand' after any foul and there's also a shot clock of 20 seconds for the first five minutes and 15 seconds for the last five minutes.

Carter, who won his second ranking title at the Roewe Shanghai Masters last September, hopes his fluent style could give him an advantage.

Shot clock

"I've played with a 20-second shot clock before and dealt with it easily enough," said the Essex cueman. "Even 15 seconds shouldn't be a problem.

"If you treat it as a fun event then you will naturally play quickly. You just have to make sure you are on the pulse in terms of being ready to get to the table when your opponent misses, rather than sitting in your seat."

Carter faces the Whirlwind Jimmy White in his opening match, in the first session of the tournament, which starts at 6pm on Friday.