Ssb - hearn goes nuts over brazil

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The player I am most disappointed in is John Higgins - he was a serial moaner about the lack of overseas tournaments and now he does this. Furthermore, after dragging snooker through the gutter he owes snooker big time as he is unbelieveably lucky to have got away with what he did. I don't think he will ever be able to rebuild his image as there will always be a lack of trust.

What Barry Hearn has done - in these tough economic times - is nothing short of amazing, but I would not blame him if he walked away from snooker!

[wildJONESEYE]

It's a shame that ranking points couldn't be allocated to the Brazil tournament, even if it was pitched somewhere between a PTC and a properly established full ranker. With this kind of attitude from so many top pro's, Hearn may well decide his efforts aren't worth it and then we'd be back with people who can talk the talk but can't walk. At this rate, Hearn will have to introduce a clause in every pro's contract dictating pro's enter 90% of all competitions, PTC's included or suffer a 6 months suspension.

but ranking points serve as a selfish self interest if they go......why not go because that what they do play snooker.

[wildJONESEYE]

Whilst I can see the frustration and unhappiness that some players have pulled out you also have to accept that this happens in other sports too. Tennis, golf, darts all have numerous tour events on but none of the players have to play in all of them. If its not a ranking event then players should have the right to pick and choose which events they want to participate in. Putting an event on shortly after the long haul flight to and from China only to have to do a similar journey for what is basically just an exhibition tournament was also badly arranged IMO.

Hearn is trying to do too much too soon in the game, what with all these PTC events, along with the usual ranking events and adding to it with some players have commitments to the premier league and other exhibition work and you can then understand why some players are reluctant. We don't want to end up with a game whereby its overkill as happened in the PDC for a few years so they need to get the balance right.

as appose to doing nothing for so long ??

get real how long has snooker got to wait for players to be ready for the changes ???

you say overkill jesus snooker been underkill a members only club for so long time to pull their fingers out or get out of it find something else to do.

you got to strike now wait is what rod walker was doing he waited and waited and waited. we can wait for ever.

[s.h442]

I think its ironic that those who complained at the lack of tournaments before are now the same who are withdrawing. They can't have it both ways their either pros or not. Its going to be difficult to see how this tourament will be sucessfull if allot of the top players arent there

[BikiniKill]

I can sort of see where the players are coming from, simply because they're not used to it being like this. But look at other sports, like tennis etc, those players are on tour and travelling for a good portion of the year. I do think the players need to shape up, because this is what needs to happen to snooker if it is to remain popular. They get to make a living doing what they love, and people halfway around the world are willing to pay to watch them. The young lads especially need to remember this and get on with it.

[roykay]

You only have to look at golf to see how a professional should act.
I believe some golfers play 40 weeks of the year in many different parts of the world.
Roy Bacon

[CoachGavin]

Agree with whats been said. Personally think Hearn has done great to increase tournaments but if players are already saying its too much traveling and they need a rest then how would they be with a tennis/golf type calender which I would like to see where there are 20 or more tournaments a year. It astounds me that players are complaining. Think they are still in the era of part-timers seeing snooker as a hobby. These players will soon drop down the rankings as the youngsters who really really want to play and win will show more determination to travel about and play.

[the montrealer]

HI I think that Barry Hearn is doing a lot to promote snooker around the World however when you see the Higgins the Trumps the Williams the Osullivans that do not want to travel to other countries that is bad for the image of snooker.


Now when you see that the prize money for golf as the winner of each tournament gets 1 million dollars i would bet that you would see more snooker players playing in other countries if the prize money was as big as golf

[wildJONESEYE]

HI I think that Barry Hearn is doing a lot to promote snooker around the World however when you see the Higgins the Trumps the Williams the Osullivans that do not want to travel to other countries that is bad for the image of snooker.


Now when you see that the prize money for golf as the winner of each tournament gets 1 million dollars i would bet that you would see more snooker players playing in other countries if the prize money was as big as golf

yes but without going over to brazil or other countries that is not going to encourage brazil to cough up more money.

players has to realise its a building process to get more money you got to play in events to encourage sponsors its worth their while.

money wont just fall from the sky players has to make it happen.

[aussie147]

I agree with alot of whats been already said, players winge moan about the lack of tournaments and Barry does all he can to make the game more interesting and bring it to a wider audience and now the top players are pulling out. Theres more prize money up for grabs than ever before yet players are still missing tournaments. There must be something more to it. Its not even as though snooker is physical bar like neck/back strains and stuff. Other sportsmen in other sports compete far more often in the year. The successful players just seem to think they can pick and choose.

[ja.]

shhhhh barry! if noone else shows up, waldo might actually have a chance to win it! :O

[wildJONESEYE]

I agree with alot of whats been already said, players winge moan about the lack of tournaments and Barry does all he can to make the game more interesting and bring it to a wider audience and now the top players are pulling out. Theres more prize money up for grabs than ever before yet players are still missing tournaments. There must be something more to it. Its not even as though snooker is physical bar like neck/back strains and stuff. Other sportsmen in other sports compete far more often in the year. The successful players just seem to think they can pick and choose.

excluding qualifiers the top players have about 158 days of snooker this season and even if a player would win every single tournament they would play no more than 123 days in a season thats roughly a 3 day week add the traveling on top of that at last they got full time employment.

[the montrealer]

HI i would think the Osullivans the Higgins the Whites the Williams the Murphys the Hendrys they have other revenues coming in and they are not to enterested in going to other Countries unless the prize money goes up

I remember years ago Ronnie Osullivan said that the prize money years ago was greater then it is today and he said it is not worth while to go say to China and spend hours on the plane to win peanuts. I say if the Prize money was up more players would go to other countries to compete.


What killed the prize money in Snooker was the banning of Cigarettes and Booze and in those years the players made a bundle. cheers Leonard

[ADR147]

i seams obvious to me that in order to make te prize money go up they have to go there to make the sport more popular - there is a lot of insular thinking going on here!

[scottishplayer]

And here's me thinking it's an invitation event.