Mark Williams wins the inaugural Helsinki Super Shoot Out snooker invitational

 Mark Williams defeated Shaun Murphy in a thrilling final to win the first Helsinki Super Shoot Out Snooker Invitational.

Taom Helsinki International Snooker Cup

All eight cueists in the upcoming 2025 Taom Helsinki International Snooker Cup also featured in the Super Shoot Out, and they faced amateur opponents in the opening round - several of which were local players from the Nordic region.

Seven of the eight professionals made it through to the quarter-finals - the only casualty was John Higgins who was eliminated by Finland's Jirka Maaranen.

At the top of the draw, world number two Kyren Wilson faced a 'mystery opponent' who turned out to be 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor, who is in the Finnish capital to MC the main competition.

Recent World Championship finalist Williams defeated Ville Haukimaki in round one before eliminating Wilson in the quarter-finals. Elsewhere in the top half of the draw, Ali Carter saw off Zhang Anda.

Further down the bracket, amateur Maaranen was stopped by Murphy, while Mark Allen dispatched world number one Judd Trump. In the opening round, Trump defeated former World Seniors Champion Lee Walker.

2025 Helsinki Super Shoot Out Snooker Invitational results:

Round One

Kyren Wilson def. Dennis Taylor (mystery opponent)

Mark Williams def. Ville Haukimaki

Ali Carter def. Toni Savonen

Zhang Anda def. Patrik Tiihonen

Jirka Maaranen def. John Higgins

Shaun Murphy def. Belan Sharif

Judd Trump def. Lee Walker

Mark Allen def. Heikki Niva

Quarter-Finals

Williams def. Wilson

Carter def. Zhang

Murphy def. Maaranen

Allen def. Trump

Semi-Finals

Williams def. Carter

Murphy def. Allen

Final

Williams def. Murphy

In the semi-finals, Carter took an early lead against Williams, but the 50-year-old 'Welsh Potting Machine' produced a clearance of 93 to progress to the final.

It was a low scoring affair in the second semi where Murphy was aided by a huge fluke on a brown having missed it into a middle pocket, only for it to rattle in the jaws and go into the opposite baulk corner yellow pocket.

That slice of luck allowed Murphy to rack up points and stay at the table for a crucial amount of time. When Allen - who has previously won the professional version of the Snooker Shoot Out - returned to the table with a great layout, it was too late and the match-clock soon expired.

In the final, three-time World Champion and current world number three Williams compiled a break of 41 to establish a handy advantage as the match went into its final five minutes where the shot-clock was reduced to ten seconds.

However, Murphy crunched in a long red from distance and went about fashioning a run of 39 which took him to the final red which was placed on the top cushion.

The shot that would surely either win or lose him the tie, Murphy rattled it, left it over the pocket, and Williams duly stepped up to record victory on the colours.

The unique extravaganza was played within a fantastic atmosphere and in front of very healthy live audience numbers.

Williams is set to face Murphy again, this time on Saturday lunchtime in the opening match of the 2025 Taom Helsinki International Snooker Cup.