Debutant Nix Hopes To Shine At Shoot Out
Sophie Nix, the world’s top under-21 women’s player, is taking inspiration from Bai Yulu as she looks ahead to her first appearance in the 9Club Shoot Out this week.
Scotland’s Nix, age 16, will be among the 128 players in Leicester hoping to lift the trophy in the unique world ranking event, in which all matches last a maximum of ten minutes. As the current World Women’s Snooker top ranked under-21 player, she is one of eight amateurs invited by WPBSA.
“I’m really excited, it will be my first live televised match,” said Nix, who will meet fellow Scot Anthony McGill in her opening match on Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t usually get nervous but I expect I might do just before I play. I have had some good advice from Reanne Evans, she told me to speed up my game in practice, and then when I’m out there to try to ignore the crowd as much as I can. My boyfriend (Steven Wardropper, Scottish Under-16 Champion) is also playing in it for the first time so we’ll be able to cheer each other on.”
Nix was thrilled to watch Bai’s run in the recent Victorian Plumbing UK Championship qualifiers as she won three matches to reach the last 48, the longest ever run by a woman in a Triple Crown event. “All of the women players can take inspiration from what Bai is doing,” she said. “I really look up to her. Just after she had that run I played her in the last 16 of the Women’s Masters – she beat me 3-0 but it was a good experience just to play her.”
Nix first played pool at the age of eight during a holiday and was encouraged by her father to graduate to snooker. She has played on the World Women’s Tour for the past three years and has progressed quickly. “I started for fun and never expected to get to the top of the under-21 rankings. My goal now is to climb the main rankings (from 34th) and to compete regularly with the top women players,” added Nix, who has to balance tournaments and practice with homework as she is currently studying Highers in five subjects.
The 9Club Shoot Out runs from Wednesday to Saturday (December 4-7) at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. Star names in the field include local favourite Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, defending champion Mark Allen and many more. Watch the action live on Eurosport, discovery+ and other broadcasters worldwide. For the match schedule click here.
Tickets are still available from just £22, for details click here.
