Chris Wakelin has won the Snooker Shoot Out title, compiling the biggest break of the tournament to beat Julien Leclercq in the final.
The world number 47 went into the event having not reached the quarter-final of any competition since the Gibraltar Open in March 2021, but the 30-year-old was able to prevail in the one-frame, time-restricted tournament.
Wakelin saved his most dominant performance for the final, making a 119 break to overcome the challenge of Belgian teenager Leclercq.
Speaking after his triumph, Wakelin said: "It's everything I could have dreamed of.
"You work day in, day out, 10 years now of not achieving anything spectacular - but today it all came together."
This is how you secure your first ranking title... pic.twitter.com/lvbrpe058d
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) January 29, 2023
The unpredictable event lived up to its billing with veteran and 2014 winner Dominic Dale the only notable name in the semi-finals, with Welsh compatriot Daniel Wells completing the list.
Earlier on Saturday evening, the likes of Ali Carter and Jack Lisowski bowed out at the last-16 stage, with Mark Williams the notable exit in the last 32.
In terms of world rankings, Wakelin has now advanced into 33rd place, while Leclercq has improved from 109th position to 85th spot.
The only movement in the top 16 saw Yan Bingtao and Ryan Day trade 15th and 16th place courtesy of the latter's prize money from winning the event two years ago dropping off his ranking.
However, Bingtao missed the competition as one of 10 Chinese players who have been charged and suspended on the back of a match-fixing investigation.
Darren Plant
