Pro Snooker in the Early 1990s
I grew up in the 1990s. One of my earliest memories was watching the 1994 World Snooker Final between Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White. At that time, I was given a small book that I had for years and years, but eventually lost – the official world snooker almanac. This included photos and results of the top 100 players; many household names. Was evident how different the tour was than it is today.
Obviously the main flagship tournaments were still in their usual formats – the Benson & Hedges Masters, the Embassy World Championship, the UK Championship and the Grand Prix in its original guise. The tour was very UK-centric – the classics, the Regal Scottish, Regal Welsh all popular events, all bankrolled by tobacco money men.
I know very little about what the professional tour was like. I do know that there were a ludicrous number of “professionals” – 500 or so paying the £500 membership fee. Many of that seasons intake have gone onto become the household names of today. I believe Mark Williams and John Higgins took the opportunity to turn pro when you could effectively buy-in to the professional tour and play the qualifiers of all 10 pro events.
The Norbreck Hotel in Blackpool was the second home of many an aspiring professional player. I seem to recall Ronnie O’Sullivan, one of the youngest players on tour at the time having to play sometimes 11 qualifying matches to get to the venues. Possibly 8 or 9 of those match wins unpaid. I believe he still holds the record number of matches won in a row?
Was opening the game ever sustainable? What I’m trying to picture is the mind of the player back in 1993. What was the setup like? Was it organised chaos; a logistical nightmare?
Obviously the main flagship tournaments were still in their usual formats – the Benson & Hedges Masters, the Embassy World Championship, the UK Championship and the Grand Prix in its original guise. The tour was very UK-centric – the classics, the Regal Scottish, Regal Welsh all popular events, all bankrolled by tobacco money men.
I know very little about what the professional tour was like. I do know that there were a ludicrous number of “professionals” – 500 or so paying the £500 membership fee. Many of that seasons intake have gone onto become the household names of today. I believe Mark Williams and John Higgins took the opportunity to turn pro when you could effectively buy-in to the professional tour and play the qualifiers of all 10 pro events.
The Norbreck Hotel in Blackpool was the second home of many an aspiring professional player. I seem to recall Ronnie O’Sullivan, one of the youngest players on tour at the time having to play sometimes 11 qualifying matches to get to the venues. Possibly 8 or 9 of those match wins unpaid. I believe he still holds the record number of matches won in a row?
Was opening the game ever sustainable? What I’m trying to picture is the mind of the player back in 1993. What was the setup like? Was it organised chaos; a logistical nightmare?
- Dannyboy
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