2.6.11

ONE YEAR ON: WHAT HAS BARRY HEARN DONE FOR US?

It is a year to the day since Barry Hearn won his crunch vote to take control of snooker’s commercial rights.

The vote passed 34-27. If it were held again today, a year on, Hearn would surely win by a landslide.

His 12 months in charge have not been without difficulties or controversy but his energy, ideas and commitment have helped to turn snooker’s fortunes around.

But before I look at the various areas where he has been active, a history lesson...

Snooker rose to prominence in the UK as a frontline television sport in the late 1970s. The WPBSA was a players’ club but its management structure was less of an issue than today because sponsors and broadcasters were queuing up to throw money at the sport.

It looked like the sun would never set but this golden era began to wane in the mid 1990s and by the time the tobacco companies were given their marching orders at the end of the 90s a cash crisis loomed. There was no plan put in place to counter the loss of cigarette firms and the game started to struggle, with prize money dipping and tournaments being reduced.

This was the time someone like Hearn was badly needed but, instead, the players continued to vote for the old ways of doing things.

Why? Because they didn’t know any better. They had been conditioned to believe that they – the professional players – ‘owned’ the game and that they should therefore run it.

However, a year ago, with just six ranking events and whole months between tournaments, enough of them – just about – had had enough and took a step into the unknown under Hearn.

The promoter took a 51% share of the game’s commercial rights and the WPBSA reverted to a rules and regulatory body.

Hearn can afford to take a more assertive position because he can’t be voted out. He doesn’t believe in handouts and the ‘guarantees’ culture, where a player would be certain to earn a particular amount even if they didn’t win a single match.

Why? Because nobody gave Hearn anything. He built up Matchroom from scratch and it is now a multi-million pound empire. He did this through sheer hard work and by identifying gaps in the market and niches that nobody else realised was popular.

He realised before most that snooker was not just a sport but a soap opera, its leading lights ripe to be promoted and, in turn, enriched.

He went off to conquer other sporting worlds – boxing, darts, poker, ten pin bowling, even fishing – but snooker was his first love and he has thrown himself back into the green baize world with customary vigour.

But how has he done?

Here are my scores out of ten...

THE CIRCUIT
You could only sympathise with players complaining that there simply wasn’t enough snooker to play. Alan McManus – by no means a troublemaker – put it best. “When I put my waistcoat on it feels like a novelty. I’m a part time professional,” he said a few years ago (and was threatened with disciplinary action for doing so).

Hearn devised the Players Tour Championship as a way of keeping players busy while also using his vast network of contacts to set about putting on new tournaments.

Last season there was a ranking event in Germany. This season there will be one in Australia. There will be an invitation event in Brazil and a World Cup in Thailand. There’s talk of a tournament in India. In the space of a year, some players have gone from saying there are not enough tournaments to saying there are too many (expenses mounting up for entering and travelling to them). Hearn’s view is that the opportunity now exists for those who can make the most of it.

The fact is, there is now considerably more snooker than before, which is surely a cause for celebration.

The original stipulation for Hearn taking over was that he would raise prize money from £3.5m to £4m after a year. In fact, it has increased to around £6m.

On rebuilding the circuit and increasing playing opportunities, he can't be faulted.

VERDICT: 10/10


THE PLAYERS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The PTC series got the players back doing what they do best: playing the game.

It wasn’t perfect. The British PTCs were played in sweltering conditions and some nights ended in the early hours. There was no room for spectators and some players felt it was all a bit undignified.

Those who won the £10,000 top prize probably felt differently and the European PTCs at least had room for crowds and have the potential to grow into bigger events.

The grand finals in Ireland drew huge crowds for the last two days and the whole PTC series at least gave players the chance to get themselves into form, gain some confidence and test their games.

It also gave amateurs the chance to play top players, gaining valuable experience.

VERDICT: 7/10


THE RANKING SYSTEM
The old system offered protection to players not doing well and no immediate benefit for players winning tournaments. However many they won they would have to wait until the following season to rise up the list.

It’s amazing it lasted as long as it did. The new rolling system more accurately reflects form and is in line with other sports.

VERDICT 10/10


GLOBALISING THE SPORT
This season, for the first time, there will be more tournaments held outside the UK than in Britain. This is good news. There are still events in the UK but any sport with serious pretensions to survive on the world stage has to actually be taken to the world.

Our World Championship is still British dominated but the best chance of producing top class players from other countries is for them to see the game, either on TV or up close. Eurosport’s coverage goes to 59 countries and millions watch in China. The game’s global reach is expanding and now tournaments are being taken to places like Australia, Brazil, Germany and back to Thailand, which can only help develop the next generation of top players.

There is still a bias towards the Brits in terms of the qualifiers, though, as they are all held in the UK.

VERDICT: 9/10


NEW FORMATS
All sorts of smears were thrown (anonymously) in Hearn’s direction before he took power, about how he would cheapen the game with gimmicks and dumb down the integrity of snooker.

I’d say that over the last 12 months the balance has been about right between protecting the dignity of the game and trying to grow a new audience and reach out to broadcasters who regard snooker as old fashioned and unwilling to change.

The best of fives at the World Open still produced a top class winner, as did the best of sevens in the early rounds of the Welsh Open. New things have to be tried, even though they will be immediately slated by those who think nothing should ever change – the same people who complain there aren’t enough tournaments to start with.

The best of nine format for ranking events remains the staple but it wasn’t handed down as a sacred, untouchable tablet by Joe Davis – it was dreamt up to suit TV companies a quarter of a century ago.

Well, TV has changed and so must snooker. Every other sport has.

It’s also worth remembering how Hearn’s predecessor pushed six reds snooker as an exciting new format that would bring in new fans. It didn’t and Hearn has jettisoned it completely.

His only major departure from ‘proper’ snooker was the Shootout, which was enjoyed by most who played in it and delivered to Sky one of their best ever audience figures. It was a bit of fun and worked on that level.

The World Championship wasn’t touched (although we finally got a 7pm start for the final) and was a ratings triumph.

I hope there’s more innovation to come and that it isn’t immediately shouted down purely because it’s different to what’s gone before.

One thing I do feel is a shame, though, is the axing of the 147 bonus prize because this devalues the achievement of making a maximum in the eyes of the public. The £1,000 per tournament rolling prize that myself and others have advocated is surely worth investigating, particularly as any sponsor of such a bonus pool would get considerable exposure.

VERDICT: 8/10


THE WPBSA
There is now a genuine separation of the commercial body and the rules organisation and the two seem to be working well together.

Jason Ferguson, the WPBSA chairman, is an earnest, conscientious type, a former player himself, who has worked hard to put in place proper structures for the association.

The WPBSA staff are at long last getting some leadership and are also now able to actually get on with their jobs instead of being sidetracked by politics and infighting.

In Mike Ganley and Martin Clark, the WPBSA tournament directors, the association has two hard working, efficient officials who have put an enormous amount of effort into making the Hearn revolution happen.

The WPBSA, though, must take on board the concerns of players and not simply allow them to be batted away. In this way, the WPBSA has reverted to what it was originally supposed to be: a union for the players but leaving the important commercial decisions to people who actually know what they're doing.

VERDICT: 8/10


DISCIPLINE
This is one area where I think Hearn needs to take extra care.

When the John Higgins scandal broke, Hearn was superb as a spokesman for the game, despite those around him advising him to walk away from the sport. He wisely handed the case over to an independent tribunal and I commend him for setting up the new integrity unit, of which he is rightly proud.

However, the problem with talking tough – as politicians who say they are going to crack down on crime have discovered – is that you really have to deliver tangible results.

When I asked him about a lack of discipline in the game last November, he told me: “Punishments will be draconian because I don’t want to take prisoners. If I’m going to give as much time and commitment as I have been to the ongoing increase in tournaments and prize money, I have to expect a similar return from my top players, and some of them are not delivering. Over the next few weeks you’ll read certain things and say, ‘blimey, he was actually telling us the truth.’”

In fact, all we’ve had is Ding Junhui being fined for the hitherto unknown crime of failing to report an illness. Ding smashed the pack at an EPTC. His excuse was that he was feeling unwell. He should surely have been done for not trying or given leniency for being poorly. Being ill isn’t an offence.

Other players have pulled out of tournaments, sometimes not even notifying organisers. Hearn promised action over this but I’m not aware of any.

In Hearn’s defence, it is something World Snooker are determined to clamp down on this season but, again, talk has to be matched by action.

I think Hearn has to be careful in what he says around disciplinary issues. Take the Burnett-Maguire saga. It was recently reported that there was insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution. Hearn stated in the media that “a cloud of suspicion has been lifted” but in fact the case will now be investigated by the WPBSA, for whom he doesn’t speak.

I’m not advocating the old ‘no comment’ approach favoured by previous regimes but it’s important not to in any way prejudice any disciplinary matters.

VERDICT: 6/10


FRONTMAN FOR SNOOKER
In his cheery way, Hearn usually wins over any audience. He talks in a down to earth manner and has infectious enthusiasm.

He is also a well known figure in the world of sport and dependable in interviews, which is exactly what snooker needs, not some stand-offish bloke in a suit mouthing epithets.

Hearn will always stand up for snooker because it was his first sporting love. His only problem as a frontman is that not everyone understands that his bigheadedness is an act – most of the time, anyway.

VERDICT: 10/10


CONCLUSION
Snooker dodged a bullet a year ago. A few players changed their minds on the day itself. You may recall a rival, though vague, bid was being touted by John Davison of Altium fame, who nevertheless failed to turn up to the meeting. It was supported by 110sport, whose fortunes nosedived after thinking they could take Hearn on and beat him.

I don’t know Hearn on a personal level but he strikes me as a personable lover of sport who derives genuine excitement from innovation. He regards sport as a business but also, crucially, as entertainment. He wants to have fun and for everyone else to have fun too.

But beneath all the bonhomie he is a hard businessman. You would have to be to get to where he is now.

He understands snooker people and has, in just a year, created a mood of optimism as well as tangible results.

I hope he has enjoyed the honeymoon, because it won’t last. They never do. Complacency will soon set in and snooker’s perilous recent past will be forgotten.

And in some ways that is understandable. Players, like anyone else in life, are just trying to make a living.

Every sport has its problems with governance - look at FIFA - and those who run organisations should be constantly monitored. They should expect criticism when things go wrong but deserve praise when it is going right.

So the game is in Hearn’s hands and it’s up to him – with the full co-operation of players – to take it forward.

In my opinion, in just one year, he has made an outstanding start.

I’m not giving him full marks, though, because I know how modest he is and wouldn’t want to cause him any undue embarrassment.

OVERALL VERDICT: 9/10

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Power Snooker seems to have been forgotten as a new format!!

Dave H said...

It hasn't: that wasn't a Hearn innovation, it was a private promotion

thelhc.tf said...

Hearn's kept the excitement levels in the PDC high, he should be able to do the same with Snooker. I went to the Exeter round of the Premier League Darts this year, couldn't see a damn thing and every match was pretty one-sided but it was still a great night!

odds-n-sods said...

I think the world final at 7pm is good but I don't think that was the reason it was a rating's winner. That was purely down to Judd being in the final and being a breath of fresh air.

As for the rolling 147 prize pot, I hadn't heard about that but think it's a great idea. It would certainly generate a bit of interest especially if you could tie some sort of betting pool into it.

mr bear said...

I like the idea of the rolling 147 prize, it would give the general television watching public a wider scope of the game as they would hear more about the other tournaments.

My main gripe with snooker today, well snooker on the BBC, is the awful bastardisation of Doug Wood's classic "Drag Racer". If Hearn could wangle it so that the original returned to the fore (I know you get it on the red button between frames, but it's not the same) I and I'm sure many others would be chuffed to bits. Just think back to how happy you were as a kid when you'd stayed up to watch the world championship final and the final montage came up. I'm welling up just thinking about it.

wild said...

"Power Snooker seems to have been forgotten as a new format!!"
_____________________________________

lets keep it that way what s***.

wild said...

i was skeptical of barry hearn but his initiatives has been great nobody has supported PTC Like me..i could not see them but they were snooker galore it was exciting and frustrating at the same time trying to find out results with no live scoring.

Rolling Rankings well that was talked about on snooker island long before Barry Hearn mentioned it and it was the only way to go although id like it to be even more changeable.

Loved Shootout but it was not snooker just played with snooker players.

I Agree with discipline that has to be working with plenty of fines or just say nothing because the natives will become restless thinking its all talk no action.

all in all i cant wait for PTC 1 in a 19 days and were off again for another 12 months of Superb Snooker.

Witz78 said...

Id be tempted to tweak the rolling rankings further and make them totally rolling by updating them after every tournament so they truly represent where each player should be at that given time.

For example the cut off for the Masters will be in late September so 4 months down the line when the Masters is actually held the line up of the so called elite contest could well be missing some genuine top 16 players.

Another thing that worries me, is that the tour newcomers this coming season will apparantly by receiving starter points for last season based on Figueridos 10-11 season total as he was the 8th on the PTC list to survive on tour. For me this is the wrong method and instantly hampers the newcomers, as there starter points are based on someone who was 79th or 80th of the 96 last season.

The 8 who survive via the PTC have dodged a bullet and should start on the tour with what they have but those newcomers shouldnt be victimised and therefore the only fair method of starter points for them is to get the points the 64th placed player earned last season.

And one last thing, its great to see that the PTC now opens up the tour yet again to an extent with qualification for the main tour an opportunity for the amateurs if they end up in the top 8 not on the main tour top 64.

pellis147 said...

Good blog overall with some valid points.

I think overall, the bias with the qualifiers in the UK will always be the same. Look at darts - the Hearn model - where the PDC Pro Tour is only really for British players unless overseas players with serious financial backing come to the UK.

For me, whilst the game is being promoted in new and exciting countries I'm not convinced of the market for some of them - in particular Brazil. Do Brazilians really want to see snooker and should this be considered before the likes of India - who have a strong and historic snooker & billiard pedigree?

I have always been fascinated why the likes of Canada and the USA have not been seen as targets to market the game. Kirk Stevens, Cliff Thorburn, Bill Werbenieuk, Bob Chaperon, Alain Robidoux and Jim Wych - all Canadian - were all household names in the 'boom era' of snooker, yet Canada doesn't even get a mention in Hearn's plans. The fact that Canada has not been mentioned in Hearn's plans truly amazes me as there is already a strong history and interest in the game. This needs to be exploited.

Tournaments in Australia have been a long-time coming before the emergence of Neil Robertson though the mentality of modern day snooker players will be tested when we see just how many players travel to all of these events.

I can see what Hearn is trying to do with the game though it will be a long time before snooker players become accustomed to such regular travel and consider themselves as 'professional sportsmen'. The golf model is something to work to but the practicalities of this make it unlikely to really take off. You only have to follow Rory McIlroy on Twitter to see how many miles he accumulates week after week. Malaysia one week, the US the week after onto the UK and then back to the US the next week. OK this is on the extreme scale but judging by Hearn's plans it won't be long before snooker players are jumping on planes from the UK, to Ireland, to Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, China, Brazil, Thailand, Australia. In my mind snooker players just don't want this and the main reason is because the majority are UK based - because of the qualifying bias - and they won't want to travel.

Travel and cost will always be Hearn's major obstacle and I honestly believe that unless he opens up the qualifiers on a truly international basis he won't turn snooker into a global sport. By global I mean a true array of nationalities competing on the main tour. Essentially at present it is China, UK, Ireland and Australia. OK, the likes of Luca Brecel and Robin Hull are now on the main tour but the addition of Belgium and Finland hardly represents snooker being a truly international game.

It's a massive decision but the World Championships need to move on an annual basis and I honestly feel that Barry Hearn doesn't have the 'balls' - excuse the pun - to do this.

The next two years will be crucial in making snooker an international game. To me, just hosting tournaments in more countries doesn't make it an international game, it is about having participants at the highest level from many, many countries that will make snooker international.

Anonymous said...

There was one good thing about the otherwise execrable Power Snooker -the slightly darker shade of green used for the cloth. B&H used to use an oak(?) table for the masters to make it look different on TV, a slightly darker cloth might be good for some tournaments (but not blue or red cloth)?

The disciplinary thing is really difficult. The approach Sir Rodney's regime took (conducting disciplinary hearings in secret) was totally unacceptable. However the popular press' main interest in snooker nowardays is in covering match fixing stories - as it tries to build a proper foundation of tournaments and sponsors the current regime probably wants to avoid the headlines that some of the outstanding allegations would bring, regardless of whether evidence of wrongdoing is found. As a regulatory body, the WPBSA should be above such concerns, but in the real world it can't be.

Betty Logan said...

I think you hit the mark on most fronts, but I'm going to revise a couple of your scores: I'm downgrading him from a 10 to 5 for the rankings (with the previous system being a 1). As Witz says, a 10 warrants updated seeding after each event, and an end to the diabolical starter point system (what really is the problem with awarding double points for rookies?). We're roughly at the halfway mark in revamping the ranking system. I'm afraid he's getting 1/10 for discipline, because I haven't seen anything other than talk on this aspect. As for globalising snooker, I think a solid 6/10 here. It's great that snooker is going to all these new countries, but that's only half the battle; real globalisation would make see a qualification tier in those countries too (it's still easier for a British player to enter the China Open than it is for a Chinese player, which is why I don't mind the wildcards which are despised by some), and while the Qualifier school is a step in the right direction, it's still far from easy for foreign players. That said, if you judge him on what you could realistically expect in just a solitary year then you would have to give him a 10 in virtually every department apart from discipline.

Anonymous said...

Best achievement by Hearn ? Surely the fact, announced on World Snooker's website today, that Dominic Dale is moving back to the UK from Vienna!! Hooray, we missed you Dominic!

Anonymous said...

One more point: A lot of amateur referees got a lot of match practise with pro players at the E/PTCs. This is also important. But the new system also needs a bigger pool of experencied referees.

Anonymous said...

Dear Dave
How are you lad! Marking your own opinions with a points system is similar to talking to yourself and a sign Dave that you are taking yourself a bit “Too Serious” Mr Hey You

Anonymous said...

overall more snooker has to be better and barry hearn is no doubt an asset to snooker. but i think the handling of the whole john higgins saga, with only a 6 month ban (see undercover news of world video on you-tube) wasn't handled that great!

Anonymous said...

"Snooker dodged a bullet a year ago."

If it had gone the other way, we'd be trying to jump in front of that bullet by now

Anonymous said...

Perfect analysis Dave.

It's getting a bit boring to see everybody in a frenzy to realize their globalization utopia. I think it is great that Barry is exhibiting the sport in exotic places and letting them see what great entertainment snooker provides. But it is up to those countries to nurse their own grass root level enthusiasm and breed their own generation of players.

The fact is that most countries (such as Denmark) do not have many talented players but DO have a massive interest and love of snooker. I guarantee you that if you did a poll here 99% of people would prefer the world championship stays in Sheffield forever. Many people, mostly brits, have a delusioned vision a truly multi-cultural, evenly divided circuit of different nationalities. I don't think it will ever happen, nor do I crave it. There are two possible scenarios:
1. British talent will continue to surface and the sport will remain dominated in a way that serves the sport well.
2. The chinese will tip the scale, flood the circuit and dominate the sport. In my eyes that would be a catastrophe.

All in all, well done Barry - and let's get the maximum prize back!

Claus

wild said...

how would Chinese dominance be catastrophe ?

in my opinion that would show other countries whats possible with dedication when you consider 25 years ago roughly snooker first hit china.

likahokeith said...

I have noticed some point:
1. PTCs have the potential to be the largest event rather than World Championship.
2. Most of ranking events will move outside UK except UK Championship and World Championship.
3. More England,Ireland and N. Ireland players will be ousted.
4. The World Cup may be extended to mixed tournament and increase the maximum number to 32.

Betty Logan said...

In reality I don't see how the Chinese won't take over the game if televised snooker reaches 50 million, as opposed to the 3/4 million in Britain. I don't look forward to the day that snooker becomes yet another sport we're crap at, but rather that than sharing the fate of billiards. The truth is "globalisation" isn't about the British fans wanting a multi-cultural sport, it's about us wanting the game's future to be secured, and we see "going international" as the only way because it's a dying game in the UK.

Anonymous said...

Britain will never be crap at snooker thats not to say other players and countries cant get up with us in numbers.

Anonymous said...

The guy's an utter legend. He does something that most heads of governing bodies don't seem to do - do what the people want and listen to common sense.

kildare cueman said...

I expected Hearn to transform snookers' fortunes, but didn't think he would change things so quickly.

I fully expect him to change things even further, as he is not one to rest on his laurels when things are going well.

There are a few small things I would like to see tweaked though.

You mention above that nobody gave Hearn anything and because of that the "guarantee culture" that existed in the game is to be left behind.

Fair enough. There is a case though, for new pros, and particularly overseas ones, to have some kind of guaranteed income for their first two years on the tour.

Most players go to considerable expense just to become a pro, and a small annual gratuity of maybe 5 or 10 thousand for the first two years would soften the blow a bit.
If they are not earning by year 3, well they are probably not going to make it.

On the subject of the PTC's, I feel its time to start giving the individual tournaments an identity by changing the prizemoney and ranking points for each event.

For instance, the Paul Hunter one in Germany, with TV and crowds, should have the highest tariffs.
The ones in the Gloucester academy would be second highest and so on, with the untelevised events in Sheffield yielding the least reward.

On a slightly different topic, the dreaded miss rule, is one which I, like many others, have no definitive solution to fix it.
I do feel, however, a tweak that might improve it slightly, would be to call the last miss at the point BEFORE a player will be left needing a snooker. At the moment, with one red, if a player 26 behind and called for a miss, he will be put back until he is 38 behind and requires a snooker.
If the ref ceased to call a miss on34, then the non striker would at least have to pot the frame ball or lay another snooker.

Overall, Hearn has done a wonderful job, and previous administrations and their supporters must be feeling a tad sheepish.

I believe the game will be huge again, and million pound tournaments will become the norm. Im looking forward to this season but Im looking forward to next season even more.

Betty Logan said...

In a way he's wasted his talents, he should have gone into politics. You just know if he were Home Secretary crime would go down, if he were Chancellor we'd come out of recession. Not enough people in politics today with that inate ability to get things done.

Anonymous said...

He would have been a terrible politician. There would be people starving in the street while millionaires thrived. I think he would have made Thatcher look human

Anonymous said...

If he'd been American he probably would have been president by now because they value aspiration - a hand up, not a handout - and aren't as jealous of success.

Betty Logan said...

At college I had this Scottish tutor who said the British ethos is "it's cool to be crap". I used to think he had a chip on his shoulder but it's true.

Anonymous said...

Just one question for those people who've commented on the "travel and lodging expenses" issue.

For upcoming tennis pros...is their travel and lodging paid for by the Tennis Association? I highly doubt it.

For upcoming golf pros...is it? I highly doubt it.

As far as I'm aware (and I'm not omniscient) every up and coming professional in any sport FIRST has to pay his/her own way. If they then show potential they may get one, or more, sponsors. If they truly succeed in fulfilling their dreams, they will reap the rewards.

Bottom-line still is...pay first, earn later.

I truly have no problem with that whatsoever, provided the reward(s) for climbing to the top of the mountain are there...and they are.

As for giving rookies "starter points for 2 years"...that's a bit silly, imho, since that'd mean guaranteeing they remain ON the tour for at least 2 years. In other words, they could lose every match they play in for 2 years and still remain a "snooker professional"?

Cheers.

Anonymous said...

"Snooker is a dying game in the UK" is used as a positive angle on the possible chinese dominance. That is rubbish! It is only dying in YOUR mind as things - believe it or not - can change with time. There can be another boom, perhaps not like the first one, but interest can and probably will surge once again. The professional establishment has been turned upside down in ONE year! Sure Barry can't fill the clubs or establish new ones on his own but do not say that the UK is a spent force. What a ridiculous statement and typical of the defeatist attitude that feeds the religion of globalisation/chinisification.

Believe in yourselves over there! Be proud of your sport and your players and support them rather than outsourcing the circuit voluntarily.

Claus

jamie brannon said...

My verdict:

THE CIRCUIT
The amount of events has increased manifold, and there is buzz around the sport that I have never experienced in my eighteen years as a fan of this sport.

Verdict: 10/10

THE PLAYERS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Provides vital playing time, and allows non-tour professionals a vital opportunity to test themselves against the big boys.

The lack of space for the public at some events was unfortunate given there importance.

It also had a slightly too high ranking tarifff for my liking.

VERDICT: 8/10

THE RANKING SYSTEM
Undisputably fairer and generally a better reflection of current form, although still think Higgins should have been world no.1, despite missing those events.

VERDICT: 9/10

GLOBALISING THE SPORT
The facts don't lie. Australia, Thailand, Brazil, Germany and China will be hosting significant events next season, this underlines that Hearn is backing up his vision for the sport to be a true global player which it has never been.

VERDICT: 9/10

The balance has been excellent. Snooker needed to add some variety to the staple diet of 'proper snooker' that is already established.

Taking away the 147 prize has not made it lose it's sparkle in my eyes, but then the buzz has waned slightly due to the proliferation of maximum's in the last decade.

Verdict: 9/10

THE WPBSA
Hard for me to evaluate this as a fan looking in, but there seems to be harmony there and an organisation that is listening as opposed to just washed up in self-interest.

VERDICT: 7/10

DISCIPLINE
Agree with Dave, Hearn, for once, is not walking it like he talks it. He started talking all Phil Mitchell about how he would slap their backsides but in the end O'Sullivan and others were left untouched.

VERDICT: 4/10

FRONTMAN FOR SNOOKER
Brillant orator and shrewd businessman with a genuine affection for the sport.

VERDICT: 10/10

CONCLUSION
The on table stuff has been excellent for years but the packaging of it had been allowed to stagnate for years. The feel-good factor maybe won't last but a year or so ago it would have been unimaginable that we were even talking about such things.

You know better Dave but feel this could last as the PDC continues to thrive many years on from it's inception, so at least until he passes way then so no reason why he can't make it an extended honeymoon.

VERDICT: 9/10

Anonymous said...

0/10 for WPBSA. The recent cutbacks were probably not due to cuts in BBC contracts but more the egotisitcal views of those within the company that always believed they could run the ship on their own at the cost of job losses for their "work colleagues". Unfortunately, Hearn's hatchet fell in the wrong place and time will show what incompetence remains. It was the fresh, new ideas that were axed and what remains is old school, "made in the bar" ideas.