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World Series still the boring non sense matches. The professionals steam rolling the amateurs.
I seriously can't see any fun on that.
it's not ALL about fun, particularly for the tv viewers in this case.
It's about development and opportunity.
It's a dream chance for players from around the world to have their 15 minutes of fame and play a leading pro.
It's a chance to set their own benchmark of the standards they need to achieve to progress their game and the sport in their country.
It's about devleopment and awareness of the sport in more countries
and it's also about reward. Reward for far-sighted, dedicated officials and players who've built snooker in countries that had barely heard of it in previous years.
Wen we sit nice and cozy on our sofas watching top pros in action, spare a thought for the countless amateur associations, voluntary officials, hard pressed parents, and countless 1000s of other players who've organised and competed in unheard of events all over the world, through which those players have learned their skills.
The top 96 pro players are rather like the tip of the iceberg, the bit you see... But underneath the surface, the real game goes on... so don't be too quick to say it's not fun, or it's not good viewing...
A quick glance at GSC shows a small sample of some of the events, other than the Major Pro events that are going on. I wish we could cover much much more, but there isn't time, but just as an example there will have been national championships in over 100 countries this season, probalby also a junior championship, a series of ranking events, then all the pro ams, the junior circuits, the festivals and so on. We say on GSC that snooker goes on 24/7/365 and it's true, I have sat with my Christmas dinner beside the laptop before now covering a live event!
end of rant!
Janie Watkins
On Q Promotions / South West Snooker Academy
All views are my own and in no way represent On Q or the Academy
All of that is very true, and I wouldn't disagree with it, but the other side is that TV sport should be competitive otherwise it isn't much of a spectacle
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of making snooker a more international sport and promoting young talents like, for example, China does amazingly.
But they're doing it wrong by broadcasting totally anti-climax events. (ok the final might be decent if the players are up for it, which they haven't been judging by the past world series events).
Personally, I have a hard time following the matches as they have close to zero interest since you'd like at least to get a bit of what the local players can do but they end up losing hopelessly in a matter of minutes.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of making snooker a more international sport and promoting young talents like, for example, China does amazingly.
But they're doing it wrong by broadcasting totally anti-climax events. (ok the final might be decent if the players are up for it, which they haven't been judging by the past world series events).
Personally, I have a hard time following the matches as they have close to zero interest since you'd like at least to get a bit of what the local players can do but they end up losing hopelessly in a matter of minutes.
You don't get it. It gives players exposure, who normally don't get exposure, shows local people that you can reach a decent level in their country, and that the top is reachable, eventhough they are generally getting their arse kicked by the pros, some of them give them a pretty good match.
It's pretty simple then DON'T WATCH or do you not have an ON/OFF button on your television?
you can ask EVERY top professional today how they learned and improved and I'll tell you how they did it because being so damn old, I watched them doing it, from Steve Davis down to Judd Trump
they went out week in week out and got thumped by older, wiser, better and more experienced players than themselves and they learned from those beatings and from playing against and watching the top playes of their day.
and when they made their tv debuts they were like rabbits in the head lights too. I'm sure many people on here can remember some dire performances by good professionals when thrust into the glare of the tv lights for the first time.
Never mind the added pressure of desparately trying to perform for your local fans and the benefit of the sport in your own country.
I've watched all these Polish lads countless times in international competition. They CAN play and to a reasonable standard, say PIOS standard; they're not professional level yet and never will be if they don't get these sort of matches and events to compete in.
I might add the WIK tables are like greased lightning this weekend. These are the official EBSA tables they're using, templated and clothed to the same criteria as the WSA tables and that's another problem for many players that they don't get much practice on these tight tournament tables.
end of second rant of the day!! where's my chill pills!
Janie Watkins
On Q Promotions / South West Snooker Academy
All views are my own and in no way represent On Q or the Academy
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