Snooker - A Dying Sport

With Jimmy White this week criticising snooker’s image, it appears that a growing list of top-level snooker players agree that the sport needs to be overhauled.

One of the evident problems appears to be the allegations being thrown around.
Stephen Lee is the latest player to be reprimanded, after being arrested and bailed on suspicion of match-fixing.
This follows the investigation into a match between Jamie Burnett and Stephen Maguire, after suspicious betting patterns circled around a 9-3 win for Maguire, the eventual score.
It is proving to be a tough period for everyone involved in the sport, and as these allegations are unravelled, the sport will only suffer further.

So why is snooker in such a big mess?

The match-fixing side isn’t the only problem for the pros.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, widely recognised as the most naturally gifted player ever to grace the sport, came out last year suggesting that the sport had become ‘boring’ and that he had considered quitting.
He said: “I feel as though I’m in a sport that has had its good days. It’s quite uninspiring coming to tournaments.
“Whoever makes the decisions is killing the sport.”

This was met with a stern response from ex-World Snooker chief, Sir Rodney Walker. With regards to O’Sullivan’s comments, Walker said: “If he or anyone else thinks snooker on ice or played in sequined outfits is the way forward, I’d be happy to listen to the proposals.
Shaun Murphy is one of the pros who agree with Walker, stating: “It [Ronnie’s outburst] is ridiculous. The place was packed yesterday. If the sport’s dying, yet the arena’s full, I don’t know what the problem is.”

So as far as the pros are concerned, there is a mixed argument floating around. Some agree that the sport has seen better days, yet others argue that arenas are still selling out for the big tournaments.

Barry Hearn took the reigns from Walker as President of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), and has indeed promised changes.

Hearn is renowned for his showmanship, after guiding the Professional Darts Championship to renowned success. It remains to be seen whether his previous successes will prove influential in snooker.

When talking about snooker’s future, we have to look at its past – and see what made it so successful.
In the 1970’s, it wasn’t uncommon to see players arrive at The Crucible with a pint of the finest lager in one hand, and an Embassy-branded cigarette in the other. The nature of snooker was a lot more relaxed, and the personalities of these players were allowed to shine through.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s behaviour has often been in the spotlight for either an outburst or non-attendance to a ranked tournament. Looking back, the reputation and charisma of Alex Higgins is easy to compare.
Higgins, know for his flamboyance and style, famously headbutted a referee at the 1986 UK Championships, and punched a match official in the stomach at the 1990 World Championships after a first round defeat.
Higgins, like O’Sullivan, helped draw in the crowds with his provocative, yet enchanting behaviour, as well as his undoubted talents on the table.

Without a high-profile character like O’Sullivan, it can be strongly argued that snooker wouldn’t gain as much coverage, and wouldn’t pull in as much of an audience.

Coming to the subject of audience, TV viewing figures appear to prove Ronnie wrong, with snooker on the BBC still pulling in a large amount of viewers. Of course, it must be doing well – it is always screened on BBC and is a pinnacle of the BBC’s ability to simulcast, through the red button.
It’s one of those sports that even if you don’t play, you have to appreciate the skills and the entertainment value when a tough long red is potted by an aspiring young snooker player.

The fans and the audience are the essential part of any top-level sport. It is therefore in the WPSBA’s best interests to keep us entertained.
This is one of the key reasons why we have seen a new format of snooker being trialled, with fewer red balls.
It is being compared to Twenty20 cricket, and the chiefs of the sport are hoping for a similar effect to that seen on cricket’s overall reputation.

There have been a lot of different trials and ideas put into practise to try and keep the fans entertained.
In the Premier League of Snooker, they trialled a 30-second shot limit, which has remained enforced. It has proven to be effective, providing fans with less waiting for each shot to be taken.

There is no denying, Snooker has its problems. It is one of those sports that cannot please all of its demographics, and changes to the game will indeed split its fans, as well as the opinions of experts and current professionals.