GEORGIOU WANTS TO BE A SHOOTING STAR AGAIN

FORMER Shoot Out winner Michael Georgiou is back in the quick-fire event – but not in the way he would have wished.

The 35-year-old fell off the pro tour three years ago but as an amateur was one of those given a spot to replace the 10 suspended players caught up in a match-fixing probe.

Georgiou fell out of love with snooker while in the wilderness and turned to coaching but is now hellbent on regaining his place on the circuit.

And he received the invite on his birthday this month to play in the tournament later this week that saw the greatest moment in his career five years ago.

Georgiou said: “It is not the way you might have wanted to get the place with the suspensions and charges but of course you’ll take the spot.

“It is now an opportunity for everyone, players and fans, to come together and show support for the game itself. You can’t tarnish all players with the same brush.

“It is very unfortunate it has happened and we don’t know yet what will come from the hearing. If anyone is found guilty, you don’t want sanctions to be too lenient.

“It is horrible and has put snooker in a darker light than it was before, but the players have to do all they can to show the game in the best light.

“You hear a lot of pros complaining quite a bit about this and that. But until it is taken away from you, you don’t realise what you’ve got until you aren’t doing it any more.

“It was a great moment for me winning the Shoot Out, my best moment in snooker. It was such a crazy weekend, it went so quickly. It is what you practice for all your life, lifting up a trophy in front of a crowd. I don’t want that to be the only thing I’m known for, but one step at a time, and the first is to get my card back.”

MARK ALLEN took the World Grand Prix title last night after holding off Judd Trump 10-9 in Cheltenham.