Luca Brecel comes up against Zhao Xintong in the third round of the Snooker Shoot-Out as he bids to claim the title for the first time.

The Belgian world number 13 is the second highest ranked player left in the event, behind Kyren Wilson, but has endured a mixed season so far.

Brecel won his first ranking event last year at the China Championship but hasn’t come close to adding a second this season, with his best result so far a fourth-round appearance at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.

The 23-year-old did reach the quarter-finals of The Dafabet Masters, matching his best ever Triple Crown performance, and has been in solid form in Watford so far.

Brecel has scored 217 points in two matches – 97 more than Zhao – and is on course to claim the £2000 highest break price after smashing in a 133 in his second-round win over Ricky Walden.

Brecel, who finished as the Snooker Shoot-Out runner-up in 2016, is 1.85 to win and Zhao is priced at 1.91.

The tournament concludes on Sunday with the five remaining rounds to come.

Holder Michael Georgiou is out but last year’s runner-up Graeme Dott is still in the draw and comes up against Rod Lawler.

Dott is 1.61 to win and Lawler can be backed at 2.20.

Veteran Jimmy White is also involved as he seeks a first ranking event win since the 2003/04 season and is 2.00 to win his third-round match against Rory McLeod.