As a fan of snooker, I was overjoyed with the news that York would once again be hosting the sport’s second most prestigious ranking event even though I felt a little peeved the UK Championship had been missing from the Barbican during the few years I lived in the city. Its return to my home from home has been somewhat tumultuous however.
Quit Claims
First round eliminations for the champions of yesteryear, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, further fuelled speculation that both may hang up their cues to concentrate on commentary and punditry. That was followed in the last 16 on Tuesday evening by the exits of defending champion John Higgins and the modern game’s enigmatic genius Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Rocket came up against a spirited performance from young Judd Trump who matched a man who has become more and more frustrated by the game. O’Sullivan threatens to quit snooker as often as someone pledges to give up smoking, but there seemed to be a genuine truth in the words of his post-match press conference.
“I seriously can’t see me having much longer playing,” Rocket Ronnie admitted. A lack of satisfaction about his performances was crystal clear in the former world number one’s demeanour. O’Sullivan has had a tough battle with depression in recent times, heightened in periods between matches and events where feelings of angst have become the norm.
To reveal such personal emotions in an interview is rare from a sportsperson, whether in triumph or defeat. The Rocket believes that snooker has dominated his life, but in absolute terms, which is perhaps why he feels “there’s more to life” than the game.
Ultimately achieving some of the more humdrum things of human existence, such as settling down and having a family, are boxes the 36-year old wants to tick. If, and I stress if, he is thinking of walking away from snooker then the sport will be sadder place without O’Sullivan in it. His suggestions of retirement are just one story of the tournament however.
Changes
When Barry Hearn was made World Snooker’s boss last year, the Leyton Orient FC chairman pledged to leave the major competitions' formats alone. That proved to be a broken promise as it was announced prior to the UK getting underway in York that earlier rounds would be reduced from the best of 17 frames to best of 11.
Now dethroned champion Higgins was the first of the world’s elite players to speak out against the change, but he has quickly been joined by another of the top 16 Mark Allen. The Northern Irishman, nicknamed the Pistol, faces a disciplinary hearing for his own outspoken criticisms of Hearn. Allen used “inappropriate language” during his the press conference after his opening round win.
“In the long run, he’ll [Hearn] probably do good for snooker,” the 25-year old said, but quickly tempered that statement by adding, “not for my generation.” Admitting he wasn’t one of the world’s top 64 players who voted Hearn in, Allen suggested the work snooker’s boss had done for revamping darts wouldn’t be successful here.
Mark Williams has backed the sport’s chairman and represents the opposing argument, conceding “things have to change”. Hearn had heretofore not been a divisive figure amongst the players, but has stumbled into territory often controversial in this world by making alterations.
There is a balance to be struck here. Tradition sits firmly on the one hand, but modernisation can’t be ignored on the other. It’s a little like goal-line technology in football/soccer, but without all the debate. If tournament matches are shortened, how are snooker players supposed to get practice of the best of 33s and so on that are required to make the business end of the World Championship in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre?
Stamina is the key to those gruelling two and a half weeks in late April and early May. If other competitions have their formats shortened then how are players to prepare for the big one? The alterations made to the UK Championship make Allen’s fears that Hearn will “tweak the World Championship” somewhat more real.
Tradition for tradition’s sake and unnecessary modernisation are facets that fans of any sport will despise, but the signs from their perspective are good. The Barbican has been getting its best attendances ever in the early rounds and I dearly wish I was amongst the crowds. Being in charge often results in having to make unpopular decisions, but Hearn should be thick-skinned enough to ride these waves after his involvement in darts and a football club.
Detractors can play the turning sport into a business and spitting on tradition cards all they want. On the other side of the coin, Hearn has secured new sponsorship for all of snooker’s majors when his predecessor was unable to do so. In a sport that doesn’t exactly evolve quickly, it’s a little early to be judging his tenure as its boss.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, all the controversy boils down to is six frames of snooker. Now that means you’d get a second session out of matches, as opposed to getting the early rounds done and dusted in one. Players will want reassurances that Hearn won’t interfere with the Crucible or the Masters. As for the current competition under the microscope, the UK Championship’s comeback to York will certainly be memorable if nothing else.
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