[Fatboy]

Originally Posted by church66

The B.D.O darts lost tobacco and alcohol sponsership,early 1990's.The top players wanted more tournaments and better prize money but the B.D.O couldn't deliver.The top darts players went to Barry Hearn and the formed the PDC tour.20 years or so later it's bigger and better than ever.

At the Alexandra Palace,Adrian Lewis defended his title 200k cheque in his pocket.Andy Hamilton 100k cheque for runner up.3,500 darts fans packed out the arena from day one to the final.Barry Hearn knows how to run a show.Sky TV plays it's part I suppose.

Same story really with the Snooker the players wanted more tournaments,more prize money and given time Barry Hearn will provide.

I really enjoyed the darts but now the cleaners have got 2 weeks to clear up the mess for the UK Masters Snooker and then there is the faulty air conditioning to be fixed so that the breeze don't cause problems.

i watched the darts every night this year,it was packed every night. Barry does know how to run the show, shame he cant do more with pool/snooker.

[church66]

http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/New...687096,00.html

Every time Ronnie O'Sullivan can't be bothered turning up to a tournament or any other player has to pull out for some reason why not put all the people in the qualifying school into a hat and have a lucky dip and then even the lowest ranked player could have the chance of being in a first round of a top tournament.Barry could easily pay the air fares and hotel bills and a lot more people would take a chance to enter the qualifying school as it must cost the 12 qualifiers a small fortune to even try to start from scratch and gain a ticket.

What do you think?

[church66]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17529706

Sounds like he is going to leave the tournament as it is.

[church66]

http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/...d.html&BID=663

[church66]

http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/...n.html&BID=663

[church66]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/210420...ontingent.html

[church66]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17811544

I didn't think Barry Hearn would be too impressed with Mark Allens latest comments.

[church66]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17821090

[church66]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2...lexes_his.html

[church66]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17928559

There must be a few married with children players thinking will I do a Stephen Hendry and retire or take a leaf out of Ronnie O'Sullivans book and pick and choose tournaments to play in and risk falling down the rankings list.The old guard were used to playing in the UK until the money dried up.They wanted more tournaments so Barry Hearn got them and took the game world wide.So a few more will retire and a few more will be selective in their choice of tournaments.

[church66]

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/n...e.html&BID=543

Barry has got a finger in so many pies it is a wonder he can keep up with it all.

[Fatboy]

Barry Hearn is someone who i'd like to do biz with. he is brilliant.


As far as Snookers future in the UK and how the Chinese market is effecting that. Is a whole different topic than Barry Hearn, IMO. He will have some impact on that, but overall its bigger than anyone person.

I mention that because I liked Barrys comment "We'll stay here(Cruciable) as long as they want us too-bad enough". Which means to me Barry will go to where ever the $$$ is. Thats my interpretation of what he said. But China will have more pull than the UK just because of its size. If money is votes, and it usually is, then China will out vote the UK for snooker the way it did "Vegas style gambling" from Vegas. See below.


Its bigger than one person, and below is a comparison of a similar thing, what China did to a market invented in America.

There is a paraell here to casino gambling, it was invented in Vegas but Macau is now 6 times bigger than Vegas and growing. So in the history books gambling's roots will be credited to "The mafia in Vegas". Whilst the real winners are the Chinese, So goes the same for Snooker-the UK, Barry, Steve Davis vs Dennis Taylor in 85 playing to the last red, will be noted in history books as well as the foundation of modern era snooker, but China will take snooker over just as they have taken over Vegas "Style" gambling. The true history of snooker will be credited to the UK and Gambling to Vegas; but China will be where its all happening in the future. Its sad for both but thats how its going to play out IMO.

Vegas and the UK created a Chinese dominated market.

[Fatboy]

Originally Posted by church66

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17811544

I didn't think Barry Hearn would be too impressed with Mark Allens latest comments.

Mark Allen is doing Barry a favor. Every time he open's his mouth, Barry automatically gets more face time in the media to respond for free. And Barry will win the argument every time. The more face time he gets the better it is for Barry, he is a promoter and promoters love free media time. Mark is spooning that up to Barry every time he says anything-right or wrong.

With that in mind, I think Barry likes Marks comments, for that reason alone. Perhaps not the contents of his comments, but the free media time the comments create.

[church66]

Originally Posted by Fatboy

Barry Hearn is someone who i'd like to do biz with. he is brilliant.


As far as Snookers future in the UK and how the Chinese market is effecting that. Is a whole different topic than Barry Hearn, IMO. He will have some impact on that, but overall its bigger than anyone person.

I mention that because I liked Barrys comment "We'll stay here(Cruciable) as long as they want us too-bad enough". Which means to me Barry will go to where ever the $$$ is. Thats my interpretation of what he said. But China will have more pull than the UK just because of its size. If money is votes, and it usually is, then China will out vote the UK for snooker the way it did "Vegas style gambling" from Vegas. See below.


Its bigger than one person, and below is a comparison of a similar thing, what China did to a market invented in America.

There is a paraell here to casino gambling, it was invented in Vegas but Macau is now 6 times bigger than Vegas and growing. So in the history books gambling's roots will be credited to "The mafia in Vegas". Whilst the real winners are the Chinese, So goes the same for Snooker-the UK, Barry, Steve Davis vs Dennis Taylor in 85 playing to the last red, will be noted in history books as well as the foundation of modern era snooker, but China will take snooker over just as they have taken over Vegas "Style" gambling. The true history of snooker will be credited to the UK and Gambling to Vegas; but China will be where its all happening in the future. Its sad for both but thats how its going to play out IMO.

Vegas and the UK created a Chinese dominated market.

The famous Final was played out to the final black ball but what the heck,why argue amongst friends.I agree with you that the Chinese will eventually take over the Snooker World but it makes you wonder why Stephen Hendry has decided to go to China & help them promote Pool.If he is successful how will that leave U.S. Pool in a few years time.

[Fatboy]

Originally Posted by church66

The famous Final was played out to the final black ball but what the heck,why argue amongst friends.I agree with you that the Chinese will eventually take over the Snooker World but it makes you wonder why Stephen Hendry has decided to go to China & help them promote Pool.If he is successful how will that leave U.S. Pool in a few years time.

???yes the final ball was the final frame in 85, did i say something incorrect?? If I did i'm sorry-please correct me, i like to learn.

My point was that Epic final was a huge moment for Snooker and IMO a historically significant event. Things like that, the first 147 at the Cruciable by Cliff Thornburn is great, even Hendrys 147 this past 2 weeks just befor he retired are all huge events in Snooker that are 100% credited to the UK/Barry/Modern era snooker. You guys invented the modern game and made it what it is.

IMO Modern snooker is a UK creation will be over showed by China and a notation in the history books. Similar thing for Vegas style gambling. We built it, they own it. China is the future for the world, like it or not.
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As far as the immeadate future, I think some of the UK lad's will follow the $$$ and go to China, that's human nature. Some may retire because they know the competition in 3-5 years will be much difficult to deal with and harder and harder to win enough $$ to cover living in the UK/china at the same time, working a world away from home is a bad option for the older guys with family's. Moving to China to be a pro snooker player is a very tough road and could cost a player and his family $100K USD if things dont work out and they had to return to the UK. For Judd and other young guys China is a great opportunity.


I saw a 20 second video of Ding getting out of his brand new white Ferrari 458. He drives on to the screen, parks gets out-20-30 kids come running to the car. He gets his cue out, signs a few autographs and carries on. End of film. He looked like a rock star, footballer. Many young Chinese kids will see that video and get inspired by it, hell I am and i'm old. This kind of thing will put more cues in kids hands than anything. they will STOP playing video games if they see their Hero's driving white Ferrari's(Chinese people love white sports cars BTW). That is the future of snooker. Pity that dosent happen with pool else where.