Anthony McGill’s title defence of the Snooker Shoot Out lasted just ten minutes as last year’s winner suffered a first round exit.

Anthony McGill. Picture by Monique Limbos

The Snooker Shoot Out returned on Thursday and its first game saw defending champion McGill face Mark Davis.

The controversial ranking event sees frames played in just ten minutes with players having only seconds to play a shot.

Additionally, players must ensure that the cueball or object ball hits at least one cushion on the table. Should a player commit a foul the opposing player can place the cueball anywhere he wants for the next shot.

McGill, who pocketed the jackpot £32,000 twelve months ago after beating China’s Xiao Guodong in the final, could not even score a single point in his return to the competition as Davis started the tournament in style with a century break of 102.

Elsewhere, there were wins for the returning Stuart Bingham, playing just his second match after his ban from World Snooker for betting on matches, Jimmy White and Barry Hawkins who needs to reach the final to be in with a chance of defending his World Grand Prix title later this month.

German Masters winner Mark Williams continued his winning run with a 44-0 win over Li Hang.

First round matches continue later today with the likes of Masters winner Mark Allen and runner up Kyren Wilson in action before the start of the second round.

Any century made during the tournament will see money raised for the Paul Hunter Foundation.

Live coverage today is on ITV4 from 11.45am.