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Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Roland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 564190.stm


Snooker chief Barry Hearn says annual qualifying for a tour card would help prevent a "circuit for mediocrity". With a seventh ranking tournament due in Berlin next year, the new chairman wants a pro tour of up to 20 events and has warned players not to be "lazy".

"We need a qualifying school like golf. One chance a year. You bring a cue and win your card," Hearn told BBC Sport.

"It's a bit cruel but if you can't aim to be in the top 16 then get another job. There is no room for journeymen."

The 61-year-old added: "This is a hard world. Don't expect your bottom wiped. Our current ranking system just does not work.

"We're not doing this because it's fun. Are we going to create a circuit for mediocrity? No. You have to want to be in our gang and your proudest possession will be a tour card."

Hearn, who also promotes darts, was appointed chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association in December and made it a top priority to increase player activity.

Additional events on the snooker calendar should be revealed ahead of April's World Championship with Berlin already earmarked for a ranking tournament next February.

The Essex-born Hearn is expecting players to accept the increased workload, regardless of prize money, and believes the system used in golf would ensure the highest standards on the snooker circuit.


The PGA Tour (in the United States) and the European Tour for golf conduct an annual qualifying tournament, usually a shoot-out over six rounds, with a set number of players gaining their "tour card" for the following season and not needing to qualify for the tour's events.

Hearn said that he currently enjoyed "unanimous support" from the players but recognised some of them would be opposed to him having to "drive them to get off their behinds and do some work".

"I like the golf module where there are a lot of amateur events where you can learn the craft of the game," he insisted.

"You have to be exceptionally good and not just hanging on by your fingernails. Otherwise, you won't make any money.

"My problem is looking after the elite. We will encourage all the players and if they're good enough I will welcome them on to the circuit."

Snooker's main tour currently includes the world's top 64 players, with the top 16 automatically selected for major tournaments with qualifying events, and some wildcards, deciding who joins them.

The 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon looks likely to drop out of the world's top 16 next season and will have to enter qualifying rounds having slipped to 18 in the provisional rankings.

China's Liang Wenbo, who will play the world's current number one Ronnie O'Sullivan next month in the opening round at the Crucible, has risen to 14 in the provisional rankings.

This year's World Championship takes place from 17 April to 3 May in Sheffield.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

Sonny wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/8564190.stm


Snooker chief Barry Hearn says annual qualifying for a tour card would help prevent a "circuit for mediocrity". With a seventh ranking tournament due in Berlin next year, the new chairman wants a pro tour of up to 20 events and has warned players not to be "lazy".

"We need a qualifying school like golf. One chance a year. You bring a cue and win your card," Hearn told BBC Sport.

"It's a bit cruel but if you can't aim to be in the top 16 then get another job. There is no room for journeymen."

The 61-year-old added: "This is a hard world. Don't expect your bottom wiped. Our current ranking system just does not work.

"We're not doing this because it's fun. Are we going to create a circuit for mediocrity? No. You have to want to be in our gang and your proudest possession will be a tour card."

Hearn, who also promotes darts, was appointed chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association in December and made it a top priority to increase player activity.

Additional events on the snooker calendar should be revealed ahead of April's World Championship with Berlin already earmarked for a ranking tournament next February.

The Essex-born Hearn is expecting players to accept the increased workload, regardless of prize money, and believes the system used in golf would ensure the highest standards on the snooker circuit.


The PGA Tour (in the United States) and the European Tour for golf conduct an annual qualifying tournament, usually a shoot-out over six rounds, with a set number of players gaining their "tour card" for the following season and not needing to qualify for the tour's events.

Hearn said that he currently enjoyed "unanimous support" from the players but recognised some of them would be opposed to him having to "drive them to get off their behinds and do some work".

"I like the golf module where there are a lot of amateur events where you can learn the craft of the game," he insisted.

"You have to be exceptionally good and not just hanging on by your fingernails. Otherwise, you won't make any money.

"My problem is looking after the elite. We will encourage all the players and if they're good enough I will welcome them on to the circuit."

Snooker's main tour currently includes the world's top 64 players, with the top 16 automatically selected for major tournaments with qualifying events, and some wildcards, deciding who joins them.

The 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon looks likely to drop out of the world's top 16 next season and will have to enter qualifying rounds having slipped to 18 in the provisional rankings.

China's Liang Wenbo, who will play the world's current number one Ronnie O'Sullivan next month in the opening round at the Crucible, has risen to 14 in the provisional rankings.

This year's World Championship takes place from 17 April to 3 May in Sheffield.


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At last! <cool>

Ive been saying this for years.

The current ranking system doesnt work, its stale and protects too many players.

Also the tour is loaded with journeymen who have never scaled the heights of the sport and never will. Snooker doesnt have the money the likes of Tennis and Golf do to sustain these players, as shown by my thread on Money in the Sport a few weeks ago.

This is the best news so far from Barry Hearn <ok>

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

"We're not doing this because it's fun. Are we going to create a circuit for mediocrity?


why was Jimmy a wembly wild card ?

you cant pick and choose players based on how cool they are you perform on the table he picked jimmy based on how cool he was and sod the fact hes mediocrity.

he mentioned journeymen well in the crucible draw there are 7 players that come under the headline of journeyman almost 50% of the qualifiers what is he going to do with them ? if they win matches against cooler players like Trump,Drago,Jimmy etc if they go so must Drago and jimmy if he is promoting mediocrity not policy.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:
"We're not doing this because it's fun. Are we going to create a circuit for mediocrity?


why was Jimmy a wembly wild card ?

you cant pick and choose players based on how cool they are you perform on the table he picked jimmy based on how cool he was and sod the fact hes mediocrity.

he mentioned journeymen well in the crucible draw there are 7 players that come under the headline of journeyman almost 50% of the qualifiers what is he going to do with them ? if they win matches against cooler players like Trump,Drago,Jimmy etc if they go so must Drago and jimmy if he is promoting mediocrity not policy.


Jimmy was given the wildcard to give his fans one last big match and as a gesture to thank him for his services to snooker :sad:

Plus the fact he was riding on the back of the wave of publicity after the jungle.

But as Hearn says, it will be about the best players and only these will have a future in snooker, so unless the "uncool journeymen" raise their game, they will be gone. There will be no safety net either for the older players like Drago, White etc either, which is absolutely correct.

This move by Hearn will shake up the sport like the early 90s opening up of the tour did. We should see a wave of new talent emerge through the qualifying school, as they will finally get a fair chance to enter the sport, and rise. <ok>

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

this move by Barry does nothing its all talk nothing will change you got to put balls in holes so how will that shake up anything ??????????????

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:this move by Barry does nothing its all talk nothing will change you got to put balls in holes so how will that shake up anything ??????????????


you dont get it do you? <doh>

All the non top 16 players will basically be starting on a level playing field, an open tour qualification set up for the non top 16 pros, PIOS players, leading amateurs from around the world, so we will truly see who really are the best non top 16 players, rather than the shut shop mentality of the present tour.

Surely this is for the best, do we really want a host of journeymen who have achieved nothing in the sport continuing to take money out of the game for doing nothing of note.

If these guys win their tour cards then fair play to them, ill eat humble pie as they must be better than the young talent out there, but id expect a new wave of talent to emerge, given this level playing field, rather than the current set up.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:so if jamie burnett went in celebrity master chef he wont be classed as a mediocrity journeyman no more ?


no, hed be classed as a celebrity journeyman.

the likes of White is not a journeyman as hes achieved a lot in his career and been a top player, hes sadly now classed as a has-been :sad:

Anyway if Burnett went on Celebrity Masterchef hed probably parakeet rofl

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby KrazeeEyezKilla

It's not like Hearn is going to be choosing who gets into tournaments. He's not going to go up to Gerard Greene or Marcus Campbell and say "I know you qualified but Judd Trump is a cooler player so I'm giving him a place instead."

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

KrazeeEyezKilla wrote:It's not like Hearn is going to be choosing who gets into tournaments. He's not going to go up to Gerard Greene or Marcus Campbell and say "I know you qualified but Judd Trump is a cooler player so I'm giving him a place instead."


exactly so whats going to change ?

at the end of this season there will be 24 players that played on tour this season that wont be next season so how is Barry going to get rid of any more journeymen thats been done now ????

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

Witz78 wrote:the likes of White is not a journeyman as hes achieved a lot in his career and been a top player, hes sadly now classed as a has-been :sad:


Barry Hearn said he don't want players that got no hope of getting in the top 16....

jimmy got no hope so hes history doesn't matter what hes done he is now under the heading of mediocrity like it or not.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:
KrazeeEyezKilla wrote:It's not like Hearn is going to be choosing who gets into tournaments. He's not going to go up to Gerard Greene or Marcus Campbell and say "I know you qualified but Judd Trump is a cooler player so I'm giving him a place instead."


exactly so whats going to change ?

at the end of this season there will be 24 players that played on tour this season that wont be next season so how is Barry going to get rid of any more journeymen thats been done now ????


read my 2nd last comment and Hearns statement properly then you will clearly see things are going to be done differently to the present system <ok>

My understanding of things is that there may only actually be 32-48 players on the new pro tour under Hearn, with all of these players having to earn a tour card starting from scratch.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:
Witz78 wrote:the likes of White is not a journeyman as hes achieved a lot in his career and been a top player, hes sadly now classed as a has-been :sad:


Barry Hearn said he don't want players that got no hope of getting in the top 16....

jimmy got no hope so hes history doesn't matter what hes done he is now under the heading of mediocrity like it or not.


It was a WILDcard though, Hearn opted for a Wild choice rather than the obvious option.

But as far as the future goes, there will be no more safety nets for Whites career <ok>

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

is being a idiot something you dedicate your life to ?

win matches is the only way to stay on tour it doesn't matter what spin doctors like hearn or idiots like you say.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:is being a idiot something you dedicate your life to ?

win matches is the only way to stay on tour it doesn't matter what spin doctors like hearn or idiots like you say.


your the idiot here Wild (nothing new there then.............. <doh> )

What cant you grasp about what Hearn has said and what im trying to explain??? :huh2:

The tour as we know it will be no more !!

There will be tour qualifying school prior to each season starting where all non top 16 players will enter to prove their worth and entry onto the tour. The safety net some of these journeymen currently have in their tiered positions in the mid rankings knowing a couple of wins a season protects their asses for another year will be gone, and they will have to go head to head on a level playing field with all the amateurs, PIOS players etc.

Just as in the early 90s we will see the emergence of new talent.

If we hadnt had the opening up of the game in the early 90s players like Thorne, Taylor, Griffiths, Thorburn not to mention the real journeymen of that era David Taylors etc would probably have survived on the main tour far longer.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

My understanding of things is that there may only actually be 32-48 players on the new pro tour under Hearn,


you cant call that a pro tour its a members club where getting in to it will be impossible for young players so they gain some experience.

under that proposal in the years prior to being WC Murphy would be history. some say that would be a good thing but the likes of trump wont be long before hes history as well.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:
My understanding of things is that there may only actually be 32-48 players on the new pro tour under Hearn,


you cant call that a pro tour its a members club where getting in to it will be impossible for young players so they gain some experience.

under that proposal in the years prior to being WC Murphy would be history. some say that would be a good thing but the likes of trump wont be long before hes history as well.



the non tour players will take part in all of these Players Championship events Hearn has planned <ok>

The young players will stand a better chance than at present IMO, thats the whole idea of this move to be honest. Without being brutally honest and saying he wants to cull certain types of players, Hearns planning this with that intention ultimately in mind. :ahh:

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

no the young players wont stand a chance at all do you think at journeymen will just disappear not to be seen again ?

no they will still be at it and possibly clog up the tour even more by getting back on to the extend in a 48 man tour about 40% would be journeymen you and hearn are living in cloud doolally land without a single clue what your saying.

you think any proposal can stop some players potting balls and winning matches think again and back to the drawing board both of you pillocks.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:no the young players wont stand a chance at all do you think at journeymen will just disappear not to be seen again ?

no they will still be at it and possibly clog up the tour even more by getting back on to the extend in a 48 man tour about 40% would be journeymen you and hearn are living in cloud doolally land without a single clue what your saying.

you think any proposal can stop some players potting balls and winning matches think again and back to the drawing board both of you pillocks.


Knew it was only a matter of time before you showed your true colours and your anti-Hearn views came out <doh>

The laughable thing is majority of anti-Hearn people simply decide to dislike the guy because they associate him with the Premier League, shot clock and ultimately Ronnie so use that against him. <doh>

Why when the tour was opened up in the early 90s then did so many of the old guard from the 80s dissapear suddenly?

The same will happen here. This is in effect an opening up of the tour in the sense that everyone will have the same opportunity to prove their worth and right to be on the tour. <ok>

Your the one living in clood cuckoo land if you are seriously satisfied with the rankings system and tour set up at present :huh:

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

a question for clever sausage witz and hearn the pin end.

Without being brutally honest and saying he wants to cull certain types of players, Hearns planning this with that intention ultimately in mind.


how are you going to get rid of a certain type of player if they beat another certain type of player ???

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

Witz78 wrote:
wildJONESEYE wrote:no the young players wont stand a chance at all do you think at journeymen will just disappear not to be seen again ?

no they will still be at it and possibly clog up the tour even more by getting back on to the extend in a 48 man tour about 40% would be journeymen you and hearn are living in cloud doolally land without a single clue what your saying.

you think any proposal can stop some players potting balls and winning matches think again and back to the drawing board both of you pillocks.


Knew it was only a matter of time before you showed your true colours and your anti-Hearn views came out <doh>

The laughable thing is majority of anti-Hearn people simply decide to dislike the guy because they associate him with the Premier League, shot clock and ultimately Ronnie so use that against him. <doh>

Why when the tour was opened up in the early 90s then did so many of the old guard from the 80s dissapear suddenly?

The same will happen here. This is in effect an opening up of the tour in the sense that everyone will have the same opportunity to prove their worth and right to be on the tour. <ok>

Your the one living in clood cuckoo land if you are seriously satisfied with the rankings system and tour set up at present :huh:


witz i hate the pin end and think hes a gutless wander but prepared to give him a chance however if he goes through with this bullocks marmite then hes blown it.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

witz how the buck can open up the tour to 500+ people do the same as closing it to 48.....for buck sakes get your head from barrys bucking ass.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

Sonny wrote:wild please calm yourself down or I really will take away your mod powers in the tournament sections


sorry mate but you better do just that because i cant sit back and let pin ends talk crap thats life and thats me <ok>

going to log off now its your decision and i understand that no hard feelings from me whatever <ok>

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:witz how the intercourse can open up the tour to 500+ people do the same as closing it to 48.....for intercourse sakes get your head from barrys intercoursing ass.


Whilst the original statement from me might seem contradictory, what im really saying is that all players will get the same opportunity to join the pro tour in its new form, even if it is a reduced tour, numbers wise.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

Witz78 wrote:
wildJONESEYE wrote:witz how the intercourse can open up the tour to 500+ people do the same as closing it to 48.....for intercourse sakes get your head from barrys intercoursing ass.


Whilst the original statement from me might seem contradictory, what im really saying is that all players will get the same opportunity to join the pro tour in its new form, even if it is a reduced tour, numbers wise.


ive calmed down now im prepared to listen objectively....

and your not a idiot ;) im a hot headed fool at times <doh>

what im saying is if you get rid of journeyman this season whats to stop them grinding their way back next season and thus having more a percentage of journeymen on tour because the tour reduced and thus having more journeymen vs journeymen matches because thats all there is in qualifying.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:
Witz78 wrote:
wildJONESEYE wrote:no the young players wont stand a chance at all do you think at journeymen will just disappear not to be seen again ?

no they will still be at it and possibly clog up the tour even more by getting back on to the extend in a 48 man tour about 40% would be journeymen you and hearn are living in cloud doolally land without a single clue what your saying.

you think any proposal can stop some players potting balls and winning matches think again and back to the drawing board both of you pillocks.


Knew it was only a matter of time before you showed your true colours and your anti-Hearn views came out <doh>

The laughable thing is majority of anti-Hearn people simply decide to dislike the guy because they associate him with the Premier League, shot clock and ultimately Ronnie so use that against him. <doh>

Why when the tour was opened up in the early 90s then did so many of the old guard from the 80s dissapear suddenly?

The same will happen here. This is in effect an opening up of the tour in the sense that everyone will have the same opportunity to prove their worth and right to be on the tour. <ok>

Your the one living in clood cuckoo land if you are seriously satisfied with the rankings system and tour set up at present :huh:


witz i hate the pin end and think hes a gutless wander but prepared to give him a chance however if he goes through with this oh matron nail clippings then hes blown it.


why do you hate him? :huh:

Hows he gutless? The likes of Rodney Walker are gutless, Hearn is a proactive risk taker who talks the talk AND walks the walk. <ok>

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

when barry was in some sort of power before instead of standing his ground and fighting for the i thought love of snooker he walked away to darts,fishing you name it....i want a fighter in charge not a quitter last time he quit when the going got tough.

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Wildey

look at the amount of yoyo journeymen we have on tour Peter Lines,Simon Bedford ,patrick wallace,mathew couch,they all go up they all go down and they get back up

Re: Hearn suggests tour card idea and no bottom wiping

Postby Witz78

wildJONESEYE wrote:
Witz78 wrote:
wildJONESEYE wrote:witz how the intercourse can open up the tour to 500+ people do the same as closing it to 48.....for intercourse sakes get your head from barrys intercoursing ass.


Whilst the original statement from me might seem contradictory, what im really saying is that all players will get the same opportunity to join the pro tour in its new form, even if it is a reduced tour, numbers wise.


ive calmed down now im prepared to listen objectively....

and your not a idiot ;) im a hot headed fool at times <doh>

what im saying is if you get rid of journeyman this season whats to stop them grinding their way back next season and thus having more a percentage of journeymen on tour because the tour reduced and thus having more journeymen vs journeymen matches because thats all there is in qualifying.



Glad youve calmed down Wild<ok> You only make yourself look daft when you lose it, and it makes any points you have start to lose credibility when youve a lash of expletives in amongst them :chin:

Nothing can stop the so called jorneymen grinding their way onto the tour, and if they do then fair play to them. But they will have to grind a lot more to get a tour card than they do at the moment where around 2/3 wins a season can maintain their ranking and keep them on the pro tour, even though they have no realistic prospect of ever reaching the top.

If older players are faced with the reality of not qualifying and gaining a tour card, then they may realise the game is up and that snooker is no longer an option.

When Hearn states he doesnt want a tour of mediocrity, hes having a subtle hint at the current set up where a vast amount of players from around 30-64 are in their 30s and 40s and have been pros for 15-20 years but have never achieved anything in the game, and never will.

A lot of these guys are earning a pittance and simply going through the motions yo-yo'ing up and down the rankings, and qualifying for a tournament once in a blue moon.

I can understand that some sceptics may see these moves by Hearn as proof that he is only interested in the elite end of sports.