The Man Who Saved Snooker
Barry Hearn has had a strong affinity to snooker since his early days of being a promoter, his managing of Steve Davis and his Match Room management of various players in the 1980s. Before Barry joined World Snooker Association and the WPBSA in 2009, the sport was frankly in a dire situation with few tournaments and little being done to promote the game. Although some players were against the decision to put his name forward as the candidate for the chairman position, Hearn seemed the only person to be able to save snooker if it was possible. The physical task was immense but Barry never afraid of a challenge rolled up his sleeves and used his wealth of experience to attract sponsorship and travelled to various countries to seal deals to expand the snooker season. One of his first creations was the establishment of the Player's Tour. This allowed players of lower rankings to compete against the elite and showcased the game to European countries that had up to this point only seen snooker on a Eurosport channel. As the tour expanded so the PTC fractured and disbanded, making way for permanent fixtures in their place.
Barry also opened up the tour to all 128 players, allowing the possibility for players of lower rankings to get a taste of the limelight and experience playing on televised tables. Despite backlash from Ronnie O'Sullivan and others, Hearn persisted with his task and has proved to be correct with his actions. The standard of snooker has improved greatly with surprise wins from all wings of the tour and thanks to the creation of the Q School, players both amateur and ex professional now have the chance to compete and obtain a two year tour card. A fabulous opportunity and one that I recently wrote about in a blog.
I have been friends with Barry for several years and have had many conversations with him about snooker. As a passionate supporter of the game, I always feel that constructive feedback is necessary to iron out teething problems that occur and develop the sport in the best direction. I will say that Barry always responds to my messages but appreciate that when he decides something he very rarely goes back on his decision. It is Hearn's way or the highway so to speak. I do greatly admire the man and he even took time to do a Q&A session with me recently. The dynamic partnership of himself and Jason Ferguson has really been revolutionary in transforming a sport that was largely on its way out under the watch of Sir Rodney Walker to a vibrant sport that now has eclipsed much of the globe, raised the overall standard and shown that time and effort can breathe life into a game that had a life support status.
I greatly admire Barry because he is a grafter and has never forgotten his roots. He may now have a business empire but that was only achieved due to wise and shrewd decision making. Hearn was born on a council estate in Dagenham in 1948 and has never pretended to be anything else, spending his youth washing cars and picking fruit and vegetables.. This Essex boy came good and has had snooker going through his veins since first buying a snooker club in the early 1970s. He never minces his words and always shoots from the cuff because when he believes in something, he really does believe in it.
So what does the future hold?, well no one can tell what Hearn has up his sleeve next but we do know in the short term that there will be a chance to share a million pounds after 20 147s are achieved in a season and that the home of the World Championship will remain safe as long as Barry is in charge. these are comforting facts for any snooker fan and the last thing we want to see is the World Championship moved to China. this would not only put an end to the history and affinity that snooker has had with Sheffield since 1977 but bring the tournament to a venue that few UK fans will be able to visit and have to watch confined to their television screens. I know that Hearn is a man of his word and would like to think that his successor whenever the time comes, will do the same but only time can tell.
Barry also opened up the tour to all 128 players, allowing the possibility for players of lower rankings to get a taste of the limelight and experience playing on televised tables. Despite backlash from Ronnie O'Sullivan and others, Hearn persisted with his task and has proved to be correct with his actions. The standard of snooker has improved greatly with surprise wins from all wings of the tour and thanks to the creation of the Q School, players both amateur and ex professional now have the chance to compete and obtain a two year tour card. A fabulous opportunity and one that I recently wrote about in a blog.
I have been friends with Barry for several years and have had many conversations with him about snooker. As a passionate supporter of the game, I always feel that constructive feedback is necessary to iron out teething problems that occur and develop the sport in the best direction. I will say that Barry always responds to my messages but appreciate that when he decides something he very rarely goes back on his decision. It is Hearn's way or the highway so to speak. I do greatly admire the man and he even took time to do a Q&A session with me recently. The dynamic partnership of himself and Jason Ferguson has really been revolutionary in transforming a sport that was largely on its way out under the watch of Sir Rodney Walker to a vibrant sport that now has eclipsed much of the globe, raised the overall standard and shown that time and effort can breathe life into a game that had a life support status.
I greatly admire Barry because he is a grafter and has never forgotten his roots. He may now have a business empire but that was only achieved due to wise and shrewd decision making. Hearn was born on a council estate in Dagenham in 1948 and has never pretended to be anything else, spending his youth washing cars and picking fruit and vegetables.. This Essex boy came good and has had snooker going through his veins since first buying a snooker club in the early 1970s. He never minces his words and always shoots from the cuff because when he believes in something, he really does believe in it.
So what does the future hold?, well no one can tell what Hearn has up his sleeve next but we do know in the short term that there will be a chance to share a million pounds after 20 147s are achieved in a season and that the home of the World Championship will remain safe as long as Barry is in charge. these are comforting facts for any snooker fan and the last thing we want to see is the World Championship moved to China. this would not only put an end to the history and affinity that snooker has had with Sheffield since 1977 but bring the tournament to a venue that few UK fans will be able to visit and have to watch confined to their television screens. I know that Hearn is a man of his word and would like to think that his successor whenever the time comes, will do the same but only time can tell.
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