Dec 08,2024
Tom Ford claimed the first ranking title of his career with a dramatic victory over Liam Graham in the final of the Snooker Shoot Out in his home city of Leicester.
The 41-year-old Ford broke the heart of 20-year-old Graham, who led by 20 points with just over a minute remaining before a missed red let Ford in to claim the title.
Glaswegian Graham, the world number 100, had stormed through six rounds, including a thrilling semi-final win over Mark Selby, and in the process doubled his total career prize money by banking the runners-up cheque of £20,000.
Ford had booked his own place in the final in another dramatic encounter after winning a sudden-death blue ball shoot-out – used to determine the winner in a match that finishes level – over China's Wu Yize.
And after holding his nerve to eclipse Graham, an emotional Ford paid tribute to his close friend Brian Todd, who died recently.
"It’s really tough for me because I lost my sponsor and really good friend a few weeks ago," Ford told Eurosport. "To win on my home turf is brilliant."
Ford had reached three previous ranking finals with his most recent a defeat to Zhang Anda in the International Championship in Tianjin in November 2023.
Graham cut a dejected figure after his narrow defeat but will view the tournament as a significant breakthrough, having never previously gone beyond the second round of a ranking event.
Prior to eclipsing Selby and denying the home crowd an all-Leicester final, the Scot had also overcome the likes of Noppon Saengkham and Ali Carter.
