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Yes, these events are a great idea. They keep the players busy and match sharp and as Hearn has stated, its a way for the players to make a few extra shillings.
But, after the hitches, which can only be expected for the first few events, i feel these still need a bit more tweaking here and there, and fine tuning. At the end of the day, these are professional events. Most important of all, they carry ranking points. If it was not for the ranking points, from the players perspective, the importance of these events is pretty far down the list other than match practice and promotion of the game.
But, if these are to be professional events with world ranking points, they should be treated and regarded with the same importance as the other 7 main ranking events, which they are not. This series has been rushed through, without enough thought. We know that world snooker are implementing changes here and there, where they can, like for instance the new start times they introduced for this event, seems to be better, but its still no where near good enough.
These players are supposed to be professionals as Hearn has pointed out. Therefore he should treat them as such and they should not be made to just feel grateful because he has put on some events, in conditions i feel personally are well below par.
The academy for instance is much too small to be holding these events. In this weather, no air conditioning, it is stifling, the players are still loitering around for hours waiting to play, completely bored to death, cannot leave the room incase they are called to play, and when they do, they are expected to be playing snooker to the best of their ability, in order to be able to win their match and most importantly, ranking points, to keep their bloody career alive.
From 9 0/c in the morning, to gone 12 midnight, 3 matches under these conditions would put a strain on anyones career. How can you expect players to perform to their best starting matches at 10 0/c at night, going on for 2,3, or even 4 hours. Its absolutely Pathetic, and in no other sport of any worthy credit would you get this going on, only in snooker.
Hearn should be embarrassed by this Fiasco, not proud of it. The players don't want to seem ungrateful, but under these conditions, these are anybodies games. This is not improving a player, its makig some of them look ridiculous, as when they eventually get to play, they are so tired, knackered and drained, they look like they are ready for the knackers yard when they come out, and then the same old cycle again, of hanging about for your next match, bore S--TL--S and then trying to perform again.
This sort of snooker is not too anyones benefit. Unless Hearn & co can come up with better ideas for playing conditions. No matches starting later than 8 at night, better surrounding, a more pleasant atmosphere, instead of everybody looking half dead, he should have a thorough rethink. This is all in the reason of cost cutting. Cramming all these matches in the old academy because its cheaper. I'm afraid thats not good enough. If you cannot afford it, don't do it, rather than only do it halfheartedly. Your playing with players lives and careers. Show them some respect.
Whats going to happen when these events are taken on the road to other clubs to stage. Are they going to be played on Star match templated tables. If they are not, that would make matters even worse. What about the European events. Are these going to be on star templated tables. If these are to continue as ranking events, i suppose world snooker will have to supply all star match templated table, others it would make a complete mockery of the tour.
Until Hearn comes up with something better, i feel he should revert these tournament back into non-ranking events. That way, you cannot have so much criticism. Otherwise playing under the stress and strain of tiredness etc, you will continue to get odd results you might never of got.
But, after the hitches, which can only be expected for the first few events, i feel these still need a bit more tweaking here and there, and fine tuning. At the end of the day, these are professional events. Most important of all, they carry ranking points. If it was not for the ranking points, from the players perspective, the importance of these events is pretty far down the list other than match practice and promotion of the game.
But, if these are to be professional events with world ranking points, they should be treated and regarded with the same importance as the other 7 main ranking events, which they are not. This series has been rushed through, without enough thought. We know that world snooker are implementing changes here and there, where they can, like for instance the new start times they introduced for this event, seems to be better, but its still no where near good enough.
These players are supposed to be professionals as Hearn has pointed out. Therefore he should treat them as such and they should not be made to just feel grateful because he has put on some events, in conditions i feel personally are well below par.
The academy for instance is much too small to be holding these events. In this weather, no air conditioning, it is stifling, the players are still loitering around for hours waiting to play, completely bored to death, cannot leave the room incase they are called to play, and when they do, they are expected to be playing snooker to the best of their ability, in order to be able to win their match and most importantly, ranking points, to keep their bloody career alive.
From 9 0/c in the morning, to gone 12 midnight, 3 matches under these conditions would put a strain on anyones career. How can you expect players to perform to their best starting matches at 10 0/c at night, going on for 2,3, or even 4 hours. Its absolutely Pathetic, and in no other sport of any worthy credit would you get this going on, only in snooker.
Hearn should be embarrassed by this Fiasco, not proud of it. The players don't want to seem ungrateful, but under these conditions, these are anybodies games. This is not improving a player, its makig some of them look ridiculous, as when they eventually get to play, they are so tired, knackered and drained, they look like they are ready for the knackers yard when they come out, and then the same old cycle again, of hanging about for your next match, bore S--TL--S and then trying to perform again.
This sort of snooker is not too anyones benefit. Unless Hearn & co can come up with better ideas for playing conditions. No matches starting later than 8 at night, better surrounding, a more pleasant atmosphere, instead of everybody looking half dead, he should have a thorough rethink. This is all in the reason of cost cutting. Cramming all these matches in the old academy because its cheaper. I'm afraid thats not good enough. If you cannot afford it, don't do it, rather than only do it halfheartedly. Your playing with players lives and careers. Show them some respect.
Whats going to happen when these events are taken on the road to other clubs to stage. Are they going to be played on Star match templated tables. If they are not, that would make matters even worse. What about the European events. Are these going to be on star templated tables. If these are to continue as ranking events, i suppose world snooker will have to supply all star match templated table, others it would make a complete mockery of the tour.
Until Hearn comes up with something better, i feel he should revert these tournament back into non-ranking events. That way, you cannot have so much criticism. Otherwise playing under the stress and strain of tiredness etc, you will continue to get odd results you might never of got.
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