The players who pulled out of Bahrain

[daoc2006]

Why is it exactly that the players who have pulled out have pulled out. I know, it is the Premier League. But surely the players involved have the power to say no I dont want to play, I want to play in the ranking event and theres not a damn thing you can do about it.

Such a stupid thing. It is only 2 matches involving 4 players. Why the f*** couldnt Hearn or what ever just reorganise it. I know they are "contracted" apparently to do it. But who cares about that. Sod the contract if I was them. All it is, is that there name written on a piece of paper which says you will be playing in the League or whatever. Why bother paying attention to that. Hearn isnt exactly going to take legal action just because they would rather play in the ranking event. Hearn is some of the players managers and friends etc.

They are the best players in the world, they can do what the hell they want. They have the power and money to do anything they want. Nothing will happen if they didnt turn up to the PL match, it is almost a meaningless match compared to a ranking match isnt it, in comparison.

[stjimmy18-1991]

the problem is, he probably would take legal action.

[daoc2006]

Why though. Its only 1 snooker match. Why would he take action, surely its the players choice to say if they want to or not. He wouldnt effectively ruin some of the best players careers over something so petty. Its only 1 match. And there is a ranking event which is alot more important.

[In-off]

How many more times does this has to be explained?

Hearn asked World Snooker what dates he could put the league on. He was given dates, signed a contract with Sky Sport and players signed contracts to play.

Then World Snooker put a ranking event in the week of a league night.

You say 'f*ck contracts.' You clearly don't know much about how the law works.

World Snooker aren't to blame for O'Sullivan's non appearance but they are for the others and if the tournament's not on next year it'll be their fault.

[dannyd0g]

Why though. Its only 1 snooker match. Why would he take action, surely its the players choice to say if they want to or not. He wouldnt effectively ruin some of the best players careers over something so petty. Its only 1 match. And there is a ranking event which is alot more important.

Quite simply because there is money and reputations involved. If Hearn was to just cancel some matches after arranging them to SKY and the fans who had bought tickets he wouldnt be much of a sports promoter, his reputation would be ruined, his career over as he wouldnt have much luck arranging anything from then on.

[Templeton Peck]

First of all Hearn can't reorganise Shy's television schedules any more than he can reschedule the weather - if Sky were left without any snooker that would quite possibly spell the end of the Premier League, at least as a live event. As one of only five nationwide televised events in this country (and the only one outside of the BBC) that would be a terrible shame. It would possibly destroy Hearn in snooker (and any other external snooker promoter) since they can no longer guarantee the players. Lastly, even if Hearn took the extraordinary decision not to sue the players for wrecking his business, Sky would quite possibly sue Hearn for breach of contract and he would then be forced to take legal action himself so he wouldn't be out of pocket.

Let's face it, the Premier League is higher profile than Bahrain with a bigger prize fund so if it wasn't for the issue with ranking points I'm pretty sure the players would rather play in a properly run event that doesn't insult their status as professional sportsmen.

Finally, Bahrain can "take a hit" much better than the League. The general two table format allows for one match being cancelled, especially in terms of TV coverage because they can just show the other one. Also, if one match doesn't go ahead it doesn't mess up the whole tournament. Just one player pulling out of the League has repercussions for all the players since it could change the order of qualification. If these players had the balls they would sue the WSA for loss of potential income, especially if one of the players finds themselves just outside of the top 16 when Bahrain could have potentially made a difference.

[Monique]

Quite simply because there is money and reputations involved. If Hearn was to just cancel some matches after arranging them to SKY and the fans who had bought tickets he wouldnt be much of a sports promoter, his reputation would be ruined, his career over as he wouldnt have much luck arranging anything from then on.

And because Hearn himself would face legal action from Sky and the venue's management.

[bongo]

Well, basically, this all isn't good for a new tournament.

[Monique]

If these players had the balls they would sue the WSA for loss of potential income, especially if one of the players finds themselves just outside of the top 16 when Bahrain could have potentially made a difference.

Well John Higgins said he will consider the matter and look into it with his sollicitor.

[david16]

If it had been the round after next PL fixtures on 13/11 or even last week, they would all have pulled out.

No way can it still be a ranking event considering the circumstances. World snooker must admit right now that they made total balls up of it regarding the clashing dates. Whoever wins Bahrain, if it's still classed a ranking event, it's going to feel like a hollow success.

John Higgins is right to consider possible legal action and he will argue that if it was some other player not him had a PL engagement on 13/11, he would have pulled out instead.

[wildJONESEYE]

Well, basically, this all isn't good for a new tournament.

i think it will make the barhain championship one of the most open tournaments in years so many of the top players out of form and 2 of the most in form players Ryan Day and Ali Carter has never won tournaments...Stephen hendry looked good in beating John Higgins 4-2 and Steve Davis 5-1 in the league he might be comming in to some form...Judd Trump can he build on his Grand Prix success after beating Mark Williams of all people in qualifieng.....

jesus christ for my money its a bloody exciting tournament...

[hegeland]

Does anyone know for sure if Steve Davis will attend?

[wildJONESEYE]

Does anyone know for sure if Steve Davis will attend?

No

all i know he will be playing Ding in this country in 6 days time ....

[david16]

Wild

It should not be a ranking tournament. End of. If a player completing in the PL but not the 13/11 wins it, there's no point in that player being all smug about it and saying "I was there, intended to complete it and won it. Some of the others didn't bother to turn up".

Well those players didn't really have much choice but to pull out. The boot would have been on the other foot if it had been last week's or the following week's fixtures on the 13/11.

The WSA ballsed up big time with the clashing dates so the players who pulled out for a PL fixture don't deserve to lose ground in the rankings to those who were there. So there should be no ranking points available. Face it. Whoever wins it, it wouldn't really be a good ranking title win as there is 16% of the potential field missing which is rather substantial.

Hendry would have pulled out of Bahrain had he been in this week's PL roster (even if the 6 frames stopwatch exhibition event is not exactly a vital gauge as to who the upcoming world champion will be. Never has been, never will be). I'm sure you would have been up in arms about how unfair it is and how the WSA messed up if Hendry lost ground in the rankings.

[wildJONESEYE]

Wild

It should not be a ranking tournament. End of. If a player completing in the PL but not the 13/11 wins it, there's no point in that player being all smug about it and saying "I was there, intended to complete it and won it. Some of the others didn't bother to turn up".

Well those players didn't really have much choice but to pull out. The boot would have been on the other foot if it had been last week's or the following week's fixtures on the 13/11.

The WSA ballsed up big time with the clashing dates so the players who pulled out for a PL fixture don't deserve to lose ground in the rankings to those who were there. So there should be no ranking points available. Face it. Whoever wins it, it wouldn't really be a good ranking title win as there is 16% of the potential field missing which is rather substantial.

Hendry would have pulled out of Bahrain had he been in this week's PL roster (even if the 6 frames stopwatch exhibition event is not exactly a vital gauge as to who the upcoming world champion will be. Never has been, never will be). I'm sure you would have been up in arms about how unfair it is and how the WSA messed up if Hendry lost ground in the rankings.

yes its unfair on thoes players ive not said any other thing and yes the WSA has made a cock up big time however thats how the cookie crumbles...

but for the best of snooker overall its good that a 8th ranking tournament is on the calander....how would it look if the WSA turned round and told barhain we dont want youre tournament because 4 players cant play in it......snooker is in a transitional period and more tournaments they established for the future the better

in tennis players pull out of taurnaments all the time through injury as a top 8 player and the next time they play they are rank 100+. hardly theire fault it just happens....