Chance to join Lines at Blackpool Circus potting spectacular

For the World No 59 packed up his cue for 10 days over the New Year after a hectic 2011 saw him juggle a full-time job with travelling around Europe on snooker’s extended players’ tour.

Now the 42-year-old heads to Blackpool next Friday hoping his time away from the green baize can propel him towards the £32,000 winner’s cheque.

Last year at the launch of the Shoot-Out – snooker’s one-frame knockout event which is the sport’s answer to Twenty20 cricket – Lines caused a shock by knocking out world champion John Higgins.

The Yorkshireman, who works at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds, hopes to cause more upsets starting with a first-round meeting with world No 15 Stephen Lee.

“I think all the players look forward to the weekend,” said Lines. “It’s just a bit of fun, there’s no ranking points, so there’s less pressure when it’s usually so cut-throat.”

Each match lasts just one frame, with a time limit of 10 minutes, a shot clock of 20 seconds, which cuts to 15 seconds for the final five minutes.

“I loved the weekend last year,” he said. “I thought it would be easy to wind the clock down, but when you are out there you just panic. Hopefully, this year I can win a few matches.”

Sixty-four of the world’s top players will cue off looking to emulate Nigel Bond’s success last year.

Bond starts the defence of his title on the opening day against Robert Milkins, in a repeat of last season’s final.

The Snooker Shoot-Out takes place at Circus Arena, Blackpool Tower from Friday to Sunday, January 27-29.

Want to be there? Well we have five pairs of tickets across the entire weekend, a pair for each session, including the sell-out final, to be won.

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question:

How much will the winner of the Snooker Shoot-Out 2012 receive?

a) £30,000 b) £31,000 or c) £32,000

Simply send your answer on a postcard/letter to SNOOKER SHOOT-OUT 2012, PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT, YORKSHIRE POST, LEEDS, LS1 1RF. Closing date for entries is midday on Tuesday, January 24. Include your Answer A, B or C, name, address, telephone number. Winners will be randomly selected from all correct entries. Winners will be contacted on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 24.

For ticket or booking information visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets or telephone 0871 620 7052.