My take on this 'new word tour'
Last week, I wrote an article on an ideal World Tour, thinking that it was all wishful thinking. However, to my amazement, World Snooker have today annunced plans for a 15 ranking event season. This would be a massive step in the right direction. And yet, I feel this a very complex issue. We'll have to look at both sides of the debate.
I've always been a major critic of Rodney Walker, but for once he seems to at least know what people want. 15 ranking events: it's a dream come true for snooker fans. And if he's being sincere, then hats off to him.
However, I have very, very sceptical.
2009 has been the worst year in snooker's history. Rodney Walker and the WPBSA have never got anything right before, and have always seemed more interested in themselves than the game and it's fans. Nobody going to matches, a ridiculous 6 reds plan, miserable prize money, a lack of sponsorship (or else some totally laughable sponsors). The game has fallen so far in peoples estimations.
I love snooker, and I've never doubted how great a game it is. My only doubts have ever been about the running of the sport.
We've had promises of 10 ranking event tours before. Never happened. What a coincidence that we're a few days away from a possible shift in Snooker power? Is this simply a case of grasping on for dear life?
Also, we've had such poor prize money in the past, how are we now going to fund a 15 ranking event season? Where has this money suddenly come from? Also, where do they plan holding these events? We've seen them go to Bahrain before, and we all know too well what kind of following the sport has there.
We must ask ourselves a question. Is Walker telling the truth? I sincerely hope he is, but that's all it is, a hope. Are we going to place our hope in someone who's offering a propper tour at last, but has done more to ruin snooker than anyone in the past? Or, do we place our backing in someone with great business skills like Barry Hearn who has transformed Darts into the sports reincarnation of the decade? He isn't perfect, and some people find it tacky. I'd also hate to see snooker turned into a game for rowdy, drunken crowds, but I think Hearn knows better than to leave that happen. What works for Darts won't work for snooker, but I'm confident he knows that.
We've wanted change. We can have change. Will we take it?
I've always been a major critic of Rodney Walker, but for once he seems to at least know what people want. 15 ranking events: it's a dream come true for snooker fans. And if he's being sincere, then hats off to him.
However, I have very, very sceptical.
2009 has been the worst year in snooker's history. Rodney Walker and the WPBSA have never got anything right before, and have always seemed more interested in themselves than the game and it's fans. Nobody going to matches, a ridiculous 6 reds plan, miserable prize money, a lack of sponsorship (or else some totally laughable sponsors). The game has fallen so far in peoples estimations.
I love snooker, and I've never doubted how great a game it is. My only doubts have ever been about the running of the sport.
We've had promises of 10 ranking event tours before. Never happened. What a coincidence that we're a few days away from a possible shift in Snooker power? Is this simply a case of grasping on for dear life?
Also, we've had such poor prize money in the past, how are we now going to fund a 15 ranking event season? Where has this money suddenly come from? Also, where do they plan holding these events? We've seen them go to Bahrain before, and we all know too well what kind of following the sport has there.
We must ask ourselves a question. Is Walker telling the truth? I sincerely hope he is, but that's all it is, a hope. Are we going to place our hope in someone who's offering a propper tour at last, but has done more to ruin snooker than anyone in the past? Or, do we place our backing in someone with great business skills like Barry Hearn who has transformed Darts into the sports reincarnation of the decade? He isn't perfect, and some people find it tacky. I'd also hate to see snooker turned into a game for rowdy, drunken crowds, but I think Hearn knows better than to leave that happen. What works for Darts won't work for snooker, but I'm confident he knows that.
We've wanted change. We can have change. Will we take it?
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Tubberlad - Posts: 5009
- Joined: 02 October 2009
- Location: Ireland
- Snooker Idol: Ronnie OSullivan
- Highest Break: 49