Mark Selby

Snooker in a state

Wed Jul 01 09:27AM

There was an interesting debate about the state of snooker on BBC radio last week. I was due to take part, but unfortunately was left hanging on the telephone as they ran out of time because of the tennis headlines - specifically Andy Murray's first-round win at Wimbledon.

There were lots of valid points made and, to the most extent, I agreed with Steve Davis. But also fair play to Lee Doyle for representing the WPBSA.

I really cannot understand how, or why, we do not have more tournaments during the season, or why there are so few sponsors for the events we do have.

There is certainly still enough interest in snooker as a sport - that is confirmed by the fact that the viewing figures for this year's World Championship were far greater than the amount of people who tuned in to watch Murray become the first Brit to win at Queens in 70-odd years.

And tennis is supposed to be a sport with greater appeal than snooker!

I take part in quite a few exhibitions in Europe, and the audiences we get absolutely love their snooker. The last couple I've done have been in Germany and, when you consider that it's usually just four or five of us pros taking part, the amount of people who come to watch is fantastic.

Imagine what it would be like if we had a full ranking tournament, or even a minor one, over there - the demand is certainly there. And not just in Germany either, countries like Poland and the Czech Republic are snooker mad!

I'm sure it would take off across Europe, much the same way as it has in China. In my opinion, it would certainly make more sense to tap into Europe than have another tournament somewhere like Bahrain, where there is clearly little interest in the sport. Even though I could not take part in last season's event, I know that audiences were less than spectacular. It proved to be a non-winner.

I know the global recession is bound to have an impact on the lack of sponsors for tournaments, but why do the WPBSA find it so difficult? I remember Sir Rodney Walker talking to me a while back, he had all these ideas and plans for the future and was really positive, but none of them have come to fruition.

Until I see them in black and white, only then will I accept things are being done to improve the situation. But, as far as I'm aware, none of next season's tournaments have a sponsor - apart from the World Championship.

This talk of there not being any more characters doesn't wash with me either. There are plenty of characters today, it's just that we don't see it as much out on the table because there is so much more at stake than, say, 20 years ago.

The likes of Ray Reardon, Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor were all known as characters and used to enjoy a laugh when they were at the table.

But in their heyday, there were only a handful of players capable of winning the big tournaments, so they could go out there and relax and enjoy it more. These days, we are playing for our careers and we have to try so hard, because the standard is so much higher and because there are so many more players capable of winning.

Mark King is one of the funniest guys I know, but you don't see that when he's on the table because he is trying so hard to win. It's not easy to be funny when there's so much at stake.

Comments1 - 16 of 16

snooker boring today sorry steve
From stephen.mcdowell on Wed Jul 01 09:42AM
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Snooker not boring. I love it and I am an American. I watch it on SKY and Eurosport and was hoping something was on this week. I would second the opinion that if you bring it across to Europe it will really grow. Maribeth
From maribethhunt on Wed Jul 01 11:52AM
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agree with you mark, completely.
From tomivavskater on Wed Jul 01 12:33PM
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Snooker not boring,I`m agree too.I`m from Bulgaria and I watch it on Eurosport.Even it`s fun sometimes .I`m your big fan Mark
From b_mihaela92 on Wed Jul 01 09:01PM
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I would as a fan even more snooker tournaments wish the summer break, I`m far too long!
On the issue fade playersne player wants you to entertain the audience, but they ate criticized if they show too much emotional outbursts - such as Roberston or Allen at the last WM. I may even prefer emotional players such as Selby, Dale,.., but a Woods, Federer or Murray calls do not incidentally, that they occur as entertainer.
From rosirland on Wed Jul 01 09:33PM
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I absolutely agree with you!!! I do not understand why there are so few tournaments in the coming season.
From gabriellasakura on Thu Jul 02 05:15AM
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I remember watching snooker when I first became a fan many years ago and at the end of each tournament the audience were treated to some of the entertainment abilities of normally sober lookig players and it was almost as good as watching the games.Now as soon as the presentation is over the screen goes blank
From christinacrosbie on Fri Jul 03 02:13PM
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Snooker is a fabulous game,but it needs more nationalities playing and 3/4 more tournaments per year.
From davidglow2 on Fri Jul 03 11:18PM
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Isn't it funny when Ronnie said snooker needed shaking up in the same way as say darts, everyone laughed at him, thought he was just having a rant and insulting the game. Yet a few months later we have more professional players echoing Ronnies thoughts albeit in a slightly more delicate manner and it all makes sense!! Maybe Ronnie is actually more in love with the game than some people give him credit for and if the people that run the tour listened to his and other players views then the game would be in a stronger position than it is now. No doubting the strength of the players just the managing of the tour that is below standard.
From jackmcloughlin11 on Sun Jul 05 07:23PM
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"It's not easy to be funny when there's so much at stake", but you do it. The way you joked about the positioning of the balls after a miss in a game with Higgins I'll never forget - leaning in the directions where the balls had to be put. You amazed me with the nerve you had out there. My heart was going to burst with anxiety, but you seemed so relaxed! No one else possesses that kind of sang-froid! You're great!
From regina_queen2001 on Mon Jul 06 10:03AM
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firstly Sir Rodney Walker should step aside as he has no real interest in the game,j parrot or s davis would be a good replacement as they both care and know what their talking about,as for characters i know their are some,but they need to show it as you do,there was never an empty seat when A Higgins played,we all like to see characters in whatever sport,you say about playing for your careers,you players now have far more chance of making your money these days as there are far more tournaments,sponsorship deals,tv etc,you say the standard is far greater now,in some cases yes,A Higgins was a better player then than you are today.ronnie is right about a shake up,if he packs up you will see the difference in viewing figures
From bullock1 on Tue Jul 07 05:26AM
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not enough snooker events. the media want it to die i am sure. cricket is forced down our throats and england are playing too much. its as if we are told what sports to like and unfortunately snooker is currently off the menu with most of the media who want us to believe the sport has died
From productsuk on Wed Jul 08 08:59AM
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so correct... Each of you have to be 100% concentrated at the table, because otherwise you are going to lose the match. A match that can be so important in your career. It's truth.. Good Luck Mark
From brady_yonutz on Fri Jul 10 10:26AM
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Everyone seems to agree that the fun side of televised snooker needs to come back. For example, the B.B.C.'s Big Break was naff but fun and would attract loads of viewers if it came back. I'm sure I remember a World Trickshot Championship on Sky a few years ago of which the rules were incoherent but it was all good fun. These sorts of things could recapture the public imagination and give snooker just the boost it needs.
From kerrylmthomas on Sun Jul 12 03:35PM
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Everyone seems to agree that the fun side of televised snooker needs to come back. For example, the B.B.C.'s Big Break was naff but fun and would attract loads of viewers if it came back. I'm sure I remember a World Trickshot Championship on Sky a few years ago of which the rules were incoherent but it was all good fun. These sorts of things could recapture the public imagination and give snooker just the boost it needs.
From kerrylmthomas on Sun Jul 12 03:39PM
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mark selby = the terrible state snooker is in at the mom
bloody bone crushingly boring
without Ronnie the game would be dead
think Im talking rubbish, well go into any working mans pub and you will hear this
From celtic_67_ie on Thu Sep 17 08:21PM
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