Higgins: Snooker needs global vision

Eurosport - Fri, 10 Oct 10:08:00 2008

EXCLUSIVE! John Higgins has said that he wouldn't be opposed to moving the World Snooker Championship to China and believes it is time for snooker to proactively tap into new markets.

SNOOKER 2007 UK Championships John Higgins - 0

The sport's blue riband event has been hosted at Sheffield's Crucible theatre since 1977 but World Snooker's contract with Sheffield City Council runs out in 2010 and the group's chairman, Sir Rodney Walker, admitted that the sport will "evaluate all options" when their current deal expires.

Asked if he was in favour of moving the event to China if the contract with the Crucible was not renewed Higgins told Eurosport: "Absolutely, I've just come back from playing at the Shanghai Masters and the way that the event was run was first class so why not?

"If the Chinese want to come in and make the prize pool bigger and put on a high quality tournament then we should give them the chance.

"As a sport, we have to realise that we are not big enough to stand still. Other sports can do that, they have sponsors coming to them, but we need to go out and look for it ourselves.

"The world doesn't owe us a living; when the tobacco companies were forced to pull out that was a massive blow but I think the effects of that are finally starting to sink in.

Higgins, who has won the World Championship on two occasions, was speaking from Warsaw where he is helping to promote the latest round of his World Series of Snooker which takes place in the Polish capital at the end of the month.

The series has already held events in Jersey and Germany, and will host its Grand Final in Russia before the end of the year.

Higgins said that organising events has helped open his eyes up to the different areas in the world where snooker's popularity has been criminally overlooked.

"Why is there no ranking event in a country like Germany? Your guess it as good as mine," he said after revealing that the recent World Series event in Berlin was played out before sell-out crowds.

"Since I've been getting into the organising of events I can see that the interest is there, so I just can't understand why World Snooker does not want to go into these markets.

"Instead we have to go to Newport in Wales (for the Welsh Open), which, and I don't think I'm been too harsh in saying this, has to be one of the most depressing towns I've ever been too. And the crowds there are always terrible too."

Higgins was also scathing of the policy that sees all qualifying events for ranking events held in Prestatyn, a town in North Wales with a population of less than 20,000.

"Everybody talks about Sheffield being the home of snooker and the Crucible being the most important venue but it is actually Prestatyn," he said.

"Why not have the qualifiers at least in other countries, or bring them in through the World Series?

"People in China and Europe have never even heard of Prestatyn and yet we expect them to travel to this little place in North Wales if they want to make it as a snooker player, it is absolute nonsense."

Higgins admitted that he was inspired to get involved in the promotional side of the sport due to the laissez-faire attitude of those in charge and says that he is not the only player determined to do everything in his power to help the sport grow globally.

"Basically it has been my fault as much as anyone's", he admitted.

"I was happy just being a professional snooker player, but enough is enough, and I think others players feel the same, which is why we are getting a players' association together.

"Some of the people in charge of snooker have no right to be making all the big decision on their own, and the players are waking up to that fact.

"From now own, everything that we do might not necessarily work, but at least it won't be from a lack of trying."

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Seán Fay / Eurosport

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. The world championship must stay in the UK, not necessarily at the crusible besause i think a bigger hall would maybe be better.A crowd of thousend people is a bit low for such a big event.

    From fraeyman_serge, on Tue 28 Oct 9:07AM

  2. Why not hold it in different venues across the world each year like a lot of other events do with their world championships i know its tradition to have it at the crucible but i think it would be beneficial to the sport to as higgins says tap in to other world markets and boost the sports popularity.

    From Dormat, on Sun 26 Oct 11:31PM

  3. Hey, pana n, ya @#$% - did you not watch any of last seasons snooker, ya plank !!!!

    The three young Chinese boys were a revalation. Absolutely no fear at all. Going for some shots the OLD GUARD would never dream of.
    One of them, (can't remember if it was Whembo) gave O'Sullivan the shock of his life before nerves got the better of him when he realised he was about to beat the great Ronnie.

    You've obv. not got a clue what your talking about - in life in general, not just snooker matters - Ya FUD !!!!!!!!

    From R.F.C No.1 !!!!!!!, on Sat 11 Oct 2:27PM

  4. david g, what makes you think you'll get bigger crowds in the s**t - hole? As for more limelight, could there be anymore. The BBC already give saturation coverage. No, leave it at Sheffield and you can sit back and watch the 2012 olympic construction.

    From ian mack, on Fri 10 Oct 7:14AM

  5. watch this space.

    From wazzzzzaaaaaaa, on Fri 10 Oct 6:35AM

  6. Some good ideas kicking about.Some not so good.In my opinion,why not have somthing like golf, or tennis,ie the 4 majors.

    From wazzzzzaaaaaaa, on Fri 10 Oct 6:34AM

  7. Fake fireworks, Fake singers, Fake milk powder, Fake competitors and Fake judges. If snooker goes to China we'll never see an honest game again and all of a sudden some previously unknown Chinese player will suddenly win the World Championship.

    Keep snooker safe Keep it out of China.

    From tri_mur, on Fri 10 Oct 4:58AM

  8. What a stupid idea. Go to China and join the fake circus. Did anybody see the Olympics?

    From tri_mur, on Fri 10 Oct 4:56AM

  9. This site is censored

    From tri_mur, on Fri 10 Oct 4:53AM

  10. fdg

    From tri_mur, on Fri 10 Oct 4:50AM

  11. Its great that snooker is branching out to other countries and Johnn Higgins World Series is proving snookers global popularity. However, snooker IS a British national sport and always will be. By all means, promote the sport and bring players to our shores but hold the World Championships outside of the country and it will be bye-bye snooker - The players will be wearing bright orange tuxedos or shorts and t-shirts with sunglasses. One of the truly original sports where the rules have not been bastardized to suit the viewing audience. China has an enormous following on the pool circuit - a game where the ball can bounce off the cushion near to the pocket and still go in. Definately the qualifiers should be moved - i mean Pontins!!!!!! Come on evshuw from Wales.... admit it - Its a boring place and tough for people to reach without a 4x4. Good luck Jimmy White, got to the last 32 in Shanghai and playing well again. Along side Alex Higgins, the true peoples champions.

    From phil, on Fri 10 Oct 2:54AM

  12. What I don't understand is why all qualifying evennts are played in the same place. In other sports the qualifying is in the same place as the main t'ment, or at least close by. How can the players get the feel of the tables & atmosphere - which help give them a slight advantage when playing higher ranked players, unless they have become accustomed to the venue.
    Yes the World Championship should remain in the UK, but as John said (and I don't think he's a miserable git - as a female I find him cute & cuddly!!) other ranking t'ments should be held in other countries to encourage other nationalities to play. How can it be called a World Championship if basically only players from the UK are playing. Rather like the NFL calling their chapionships in the US The World Series when only US teams take part.
    Incidentally, I'm from Malta & we have a well attended snooker t'ment here + we have a player who was, until not so long ago, in the top 16 & another one whose standard is high enough for qualifying events.

    From dianabc44, on Thu 9 Oct 9:42PM

  13. Such a long tournament, such as the Word Snooker Championship, should be played in UK, since most players are from hire. Even some player from China train hire. There biorhythm are not effected playing in UK and the can be in good shape.
    John Higgins is now disgusted from the Federation, which is right, but he should calm down.

    From BuleaT, on Thu 9 Oct 9:21PM

  14. well done john i like a bloke with some ba33s,snooker is bigtime in china..

    From melsyd@..., on Thu 9 Oct 9:20PM

  15. What about staging it in London.More limelight,greater impact and larger crowds

    From NW36HS, on Thu 9 Oct 9:13PM

  16. I want it in Sheffield so it will be on after ten. It helps me go to sleep, rather like cricket

    From taff, on Thu 9 Oct 8:21PM

  17. I want it in Sheffield so it will be on after ten. It helps me go to sleep, rather like cricket

    From taff, on Thu 9 Oct 8:21PM

  18. I think the snooker WC should remain at the Crusible! If they intend to move it, pls try to come to Bulgaria so I can meet the snooker guys! In any case whereever they move the WC there will be only one winner and everybody knows his name - THE ROCKET!

    From Stephan D, on Thu 9 Oct 8:05PM

  19. Being Welsh I'm a bit hacked off about Higgin's comments about Newport and Wales. But then again he is a miserable @#$% wherever he goes.
    Hope you get knocked out of the first round in every tournament John so we don't have to look at your moaning, miserable gob.

    From huw, on Thu 9 Oct 4:29PM

  20. I think the reason why snooker's popularity remains high in this country in comparison to others, is because we host all the major tournaments. Holding on to the WORLD championships just because of nostalgia will hold the global game up. American Football do it and when's the last time any other country entered the world series?

    From Nick, on Thu 9 Oct 3:40PM
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