Why is Shoot Out missing world's top players? Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson sit out ranking event

World number one Mark Selby made a winning start to his Shoot Out campaign against Li Hang on Thursday, but the world champion's willingness to participate in the tournament has not been matched by the rest of the game's elite. Four of the world's top five have opted out with Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Ronnie O'Sullivan not keen on the often chaotic, unpredictable and frantic nature of Shoot Out snooker (LIVE on Eurosport) which can see players lose a 10-minute match without playing a shot.

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Scottish trio John Higgins, Stephen Maguire and 2017 winner Anthony McGill are also skipping the Morningside Arena. /> Six-times world champion O'Sullivan competed in the 2020 event for the first, time in five years, but vowed never to return after losing to world number 104 Billy Castle in the second round.

“I will never play in the Shoot Out again. I love it as an event, but as a player there is no value," he said.