CHATTERIS snooker star Joe Perry has cruised through the opening round of the World Snooker Shoot-Out after thumping highly-rated Ricky Walden 130-0.

An inspired performance of natural potting saw Perry waltz through to the second round of the World Snooker Shoot-Out which is being broadcast live on Sky Sports today.

The Fen Potter was expected to have a battle on his hands against world number 15 Ricky Walden, but Perry amassed two half-century breaks to record a thumping 130-0 victory.

Perry, ranked 32nd in the world, never looked in trouble against the talented youngster - hitting a fluent break of 71 to seal the win.

The 36-year-old must now wait for a random draw to reveal who he will face in the last 32. The second round is scheduled to begin at 6pm tonight.

The tournament kicked-off yesterday with fans’ favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan lighting-up the arena with a break of 113. He joins Perry and a host of other stars in progressing from the opening round of 64.

Perry, interviewed after his comfortable victory, said he was enjoying the tournament in Blackpool, which he described as the “party town”.

The World Snooker Shoot-Out is an innovative addition to the snooker calendar. Matches are decided by a single ten-minute frame and a shot clock of 20 seconds is enforced, being reduced to 15 seconds in the latter-half of frames.

The fast and furious event is World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn’s latest attempt to reinvigorate the game. The winner will pocket a �32,000 prize.

Perry told the Cambs Times yesterday: “If you end up winning it, you will only have played an hour of snooker - that’s not bad money for an hour’s work.

“Every tournament we go to is normally like a matter of life and death so it’s great to be in one like this where we can relax.

“Any win is a confidence boost - the difference with this tournament is that a defeat won’t bother you. It’s going to be fun until it gets to the quarter-final stage, then it might get serious.

“This tournament could be a stepping stone for my season.”