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Ssb - main tour increased to 128
The professional circuit will be increased to 128 players under plans announced today by World Snooker.
When Barry Hearn was bidding to become World Snooker chairman among the lies spread by his enemies was that he would cut the main tour to 32.
By increasing it, he recognises the potential for snooker to grow and is also backing the potential of new players to make their marks.
Cruciallly, new tour players will get their ticket for two years, allowing them more time to bed down and relaxing some of the pressure.
This is a vital step because so many talented players seem to have fallen through the cracks, trying in vein to keep their tour cards in one season when the rankings are based over two.
The other change being discussed as part of an overall review - though not yet agreed - is to change the ranking system so that it is based on prize money won rather than the completely arbitrary points tariffs currently in use.
This would peg the rankings to the market value of each tournament, reflecting how much sponsorship money they attract and therefore what they are worth.
It would be a controversial move for many but easier to understand for the general public and arguably fairer.
I think tournament winners should receive considerably more than the guy who finishes runner-up.
One thing, though: if the list is to be determined by prize money then every player on the circuit should be rewarded financially, including those who lose in the first qualifying round.
The precise details are clearly yet to be ironed out, and the players will no doubt want their say before a decision is taken.
More...
When Barry Hearn was bidding to become World Snooker chairman among the lies spread by his enemies was that he would cut the main tour to 32.
By increasing it, he recognises the potential for snooker to grow and is also backing the potential of new players to make their marks.
Cruciallly, new tour players will get their ticket for two years, allowing them more time to bed down and relaxing some of the pressure.
This is a vital step because so many talented players seem to have fallen through the cracks, trying in vein to keep their tour cards in one season when the rankings are based over two.
The other change being discussed as part of an overall review - though not yet agreed - is to change the ranking system so that it is based on prize money won rather than the completely arbitrary points tariffs currently in use.
This would peg the rankings to the market value of each tournament, reflecting how much sponsorship money they attract and therefore what they are worth.
It would be a controversial move for many but easier to understand for the general public and arguably fairer.
I think tournament winners should receive considerably more than the guy who finishes runner-up.
One thing, though: if the list is to be determined by prize money then every player on the circuit should be rewarded financially, including those who lose in the first qualifying round.
The precise details are clearly yet to be ironed out, and the players will no doubt want their say before a decision is taken.
More...