‘The most bizarre Shoot Out game I’ve ever seen’ – White reacts to Carrington and Mann classic
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jimmy White described it as the “most bizarre” Shoot Out match he’s ever witnessed. There have been countless strange and memorable encounters in this extraordinarily wild sprint format, which was revived in 2011, so that is quite the claim.But Mitchell Mann’s chaotic victory over Stuart Carrington on Friday night – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ – is certainly up there.
A fluke from Mann, the first pot of a thrilling match, set the tone. “Ah, he absolutely loves it,” laughed Alan McManus on commentary.
This was soon followed by another fortuitous shot by Mann. “Two flukes in the one Shoot Out match, jeepers creepers!” said McManus.
Despite the luck, Mann was behind and, with just under four minutes remaining, only 10 points had been scored.
Carrington looked the favourite as he returned to the table leading 10-3, only to go in-off and hand the advantage back to his opponent.
“Oh, wow!” gasped Dave Hendon. “That’s pretty dramatic.”
But the drama was only beginning. Mann miscued on the following red, and although the ball dropped and he potted the black, the mishap seemed to unsettle him as he then missed a simple red to the same pocket.
“Oh no! Nowhere near,” said Hendon.
“The miscue sent him completely off kilter,” added McManus.
Eight points behind, Carrington raced to the table, seemingly with destiny in his own hands.
Unable to put the match to bed, the blue came to the rescue of Carrington after another miss – or so it seemed.
As it turned out, the blue ultimately proved costly. With just 20 seconds remaining, Carrington rolled a red into the blue, knocking it into the pocket and prompting a clenched-fist celebration from Mann, who went on to seal a 21-17 victory.
‘Disaster’ – Carrington pots the blue to hand the victory to Mann at The Shoot Out
Video credit: TNT Sports
“Oh, disaster!” exclaimed McManus.
“It wasn’t the highest quality but it was one of the most dramatic we’ve seen,” said Hendon, as Mann puffed out his cheeks.
Analysing the match, White could hardly believe what he had seen.
“That’s the most bizarre Shoot Out game I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Liam Mann’s had two fouls, jumped over a ball, and gone in-off into the middle pocket… that’s so unlucky.
“Mann gets in, misses the easiest red ever. I know you can miss anything in the Shoot Out.
“Stuart Carrington is playing safe, he’s two in front but knocks the blue in. Mitchell Mann might win this competition!
“It’s really disappointing for Stuart Carrington because he’s not on tour, he’s trying everything to get a few ranking points and that happens to him.”
Reanne Evans added: “It was written in the stars that Stuart wasn’t winning this frame. Mitchell couldn’t do anything right but somehow ended up winning it.”
Earlier in the evening saw the elimination of Michael Holt, signalling the end to an eventful tournament for the Englishman.
The 47-year-old admitted he had been “lucky” to defeat Ashley Hugill following a moment of controversy in which the bleep failed to alert his opponent in the first-round match.
Holt would eventually secure a four-point victory to progress, but he was ultimately knocked out by Jackson Page.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Snooker Shoot Out and Scottish Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
