4.2.10

WORLD SERIES: WHICH WAY NOW?

The World Series event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia scheduled for March 6-7 has been cancelled.

Organisers say this is because Eurosport have been unable to obtain the necessary licenses to broadcast from the Middle Eastern kingdom.

The same scenario has occurred for golf tournaments in Saudi so I am not disputing this explanation.

However, the fact remains that World Series has failed to deliver on its early promise.

It was launched in 2008 by John Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney. The idea was to capitalise on the growing popularity of snooker in Europe by promoting a series of two day invitation tournaments in various countries.

A deal was signed with Eurosport, the main reason for snooker’s growth on the continent, and four events were staged.

These were generally regarded as a success. The tournaments were laid back affairs which gave the snooker public a chance to get closer to the big name players.

In 2009, a grand finals was held in Portugal. Two further events have been staged since but there is currently no schedule indicating any more tournaments.

One of the stated aims of the World Series was to develop local talent in each country it visited.

This is laudable but it resulted in a series of mismatches between top players and local amateurs, who were always going to be outclassed.

Reducing frames to six or ten red contests could not prevent the one-sided nature of most of the matches.

Top level sport has to be competitive to maintain the interest of television audiences. One slap after another was never going to do this.

World Series organisers did not enjoy any support from the WPBSA. Indeed, certain figures from the governing body gave the impression they couldn’t wait for it to fail.

Ultimately this attitude backfired because Mooney helped to orchestrate the coup to remove most of them.

However, his own enterprise faces an uncertain future. I think he would admit that he underestimated the sheer difficulty - not to mention money – involved in getting a venture like this off the ground and then keeping it going.

Newly installed WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn has pledged to work with World Series bosses and use any future tournaments as a ‘battering ram’ to get snooker into countries where it is popular.

I hope he ditches the local element and instead takes eight top names to each country to ensure a competitive event.

Perhaps the leading amateur could play Higgins in a big exhibition the night before each event begins? This would work as a way of launching each tournament and incorporating a local element without detracting from the event itself.

A model could be the Masters series in tennis – though this would take years and years to emulate – and effectively develop an invitation circuit for the top players alongside the ranking circuit.

This may look like two fingers up to the lower ranked players but everyone has the same chance to become a top player. You do it by winning matches/tournaments.

The World Series can only obtain credibility by developing a proper structure – with an order of merit – so that it means something to the wider public, rather than existing as a series of dislocated events.

I wish Higgins and Mooney all the best with this and am sure Hearn will do his best to revitalise the project. Regardless of its problems, World Series is still a good idea.

But without actual tournaments, this is all it will remain.

25 comments:

Trevor said...

Off topic i know Dave is there any word of the 7th ranking tournament supposed to take place this season ?

Dave H said...

All I know is it won't be happening

Rob said...

The world series was an extremely welcome addition when the WSA seemed to be going nowhere fast.

Arguably the newfound momentum under Barry Hearn has reduced the need and motivation for an independent series. Especially now that Pat Mooney is on the board, he may feel that he can work effectively through 'official' channels, whereas previously that was impossible.

Just guesswork of course.

Anonymous said...

Barry Hearn brought Pat Mooney and Parker on to the board due to their expertise and contacts abroad. I hope that he is as fast dropping Mooney for a start. Parker will not be far behind.

Anonymous said...

Snooker © The Fine Art Method
A secret is wasted if not shared
Hello Dave
Cheer up lad; it’s not your fault that Professional snooker is dieing. Nor is it your fault Dave that snooker has “Enjoyed” poor management during all the Tobacco years.

The “Tobacco Money” was great Dave but it gave “Professional Snooker Players” an importance completely undeserved. The money flying around had nothing to do with “Snooker” but an outlet for a “Dream Advertising Campaign” to sell tobacco. Not once did the WPBSA balance the books without Tobacco Money.

Barry Hearn and Ian Doyle were rejected by the WPBSA; as pro players indulged in high finance. Barry and Ian would probable have got up to five times more from tobacco companies and used it for future investment.
To be honest TV snooker was playing to complementary ticket holders for years, with sometimes an ever open door.

Snooker has had an offer to bring back the Big Money years but it will call for unpopular decisions by the establishment and some sacrifices also by a few pro players. Mr hey you

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Barry Hearn brought Pat Mooney and Parker on to the board due to their expertise and contacts abroad. I hope that he is as fast dropping Mooney for a start. Parker will not be far behind.

6:47 PM


So are you saying Walker, McMahon, & Dunn were doing a good job?

It seems incredible that people are still sniping at this board when, so far, they seem to have moved snooker forward (2 last-minute sponsors) which was never going to happen under the old inept regime.

Get over it m8, and look to the future...

...Or did the players curtail your rosey future?

My guess is yes.

Anonymous said...

Whoever told the brilliant but out-of-touch Barry Hearn to co-opt Mooney and Parker onto the board misled him greatly.
I have little doubt BH will kick this pair into touch pretty soon.

Anonymous said...

forgive me being off topic Dave, but do you know what will happen regards the scheduling for the Premier League? Also any chance Hearn will turn some of the independent tourneys into WPBSA events? Alpha

Anonymous said...

QUOTE "So are you saying Walker, McMahon, & Dunn were doing a good job?

It seems incredible that people are still sniping at this board when, so far, they seem to have moved snooker forward (2 last-minute sponsors) which was never going to happen under the old inept regime.

Get over it m8, and look to the future...

...Or did the players curtail your rosey future?

My guess is yes."

********************

Your guess is very wrong - I don't think the last board were doing what they should have but all I, and several other have highlighted, was the dubious co-opting of two individuals, one of which was overwhelmingly rejected by the players at an earler AGM and the other was brought on due to his contacts with potential sponsors abroad via the World Series. That has now clearly failed.

Finally, do you think that Parker and Mooney had any contact with totesport ot pokerstars? Nah, it was all Barry Hearns work. He co-opted two wrong people. He'd be better off without them and save the association £30,000 into the bargain.

PatM said...

Response from the World Series of Snooker.

Hi Dave,

Saudi was of course a dissapointment to both ourselves and the main organisers of the event Eurosport. However this is business and we remain true to our objectives of exploring new countries that have the potential for developing a new and growing snooker audience.

It would be worthwhile noting that we have postponed not cancelled Saudi as we had a real risk of the administration failing to deliver the appropriate licences on time and the knock effect this could have if we left it to the last minute, and very much like world snooker when the decision was made not to go ahead with Malta these calls are made for commercial reasons to secure the future not as a precursor to death.

We are actually in agreement with many of the points made by yourself but certainly not removing the local contingent all together. Right now across Europe there are approximately 27 players of all ages carrying an experience of competing with the top players in a televised event. Its almost three years ago when we took the first pilot event to Poland and I would suggest a discussion with those in the Polsih Snooker community and clubs what a boost it has made to the game there having their own players compete with this level. Moscow was complicated but now is seeing clubs springing up and staying in touch with The WSS with a view to future events in Russia.

Berlin was a spectacular success and capitalised on the work done by Brandon Parker and Tomas Cessal over previous years and showed the Brirish TV audience just how keen they were on Snooker and we now see a Berlin Ranking event on the table.

For the future we are currently discussing with all parties the best way of taking the Series forward. You are also correct it is a lot of work and takes significant support from all quarters.

Just go back two years, no televised snooker played in Europe, The potential of Eastern Europe completely untapped and under exposed

Malta cancelled, revenue in Snooker falling and oh yes a slight financial challenge across the planet. Yet we delivered 7 events to almost 100 million viewers, established networks and contacts with federations and commercial entities across the world who have a keen interest in showpiecing snooker.

We have had many firsts and to answer 'where now' well as one of only 3 organsisations across the world having broadcast live snooker in the past 3 years we believe we are well placed to bring that experience to the Board of Professional Snooker and all being well to be able to find a way of ensuring the game can capitalise on it and bring more playing opportunities for all, more commentating opportunities (for Dave:)

Ref 6.49

I am not at all sure what point is being made and obviously as it is anon by who.

But I am sure they have only the games best interests at heart.

Pat Mooney
CEO The World Series of Snooker.

Dave H said...

Thanks for your reply, Pat. I've said all along about the World Series that if you and John hadn't undertaken this project, no one else would have done, which is one of the reasons it should be supported.

I hope it all works out in the future.

valentine sms said...

its really very nice and and useful and informative posting thanks for sharing this with us....

Anonymous said...

Fair play to Pat for responding. Myself, I think the answer is a little simpler, rather than take this broadbrush approach, why not establish niche markets in Europe first and then branch out as things stem from that. It's very much like a recruitment drive (the field I work in), in some areas your product will sell like hot cakes, in others it is like flogging a dead horse. Just a theory - Snookerbacker.

Anonymous said...

So the board have yet another sponsor for the China event eh?

That Hearn, Mooney & Parker have still a long way to go before matching the skills of those sponsorship generating machines, namely Messurs Walker, Dunn & McMahon.

A post similar to food packaging....

Contents of this post may contain traces of sarcasm :o)

PatM said...

Response 4.35pm

You are of course spot on, and this is exactly the plan we are now adopding, however we must still explore and check out new markets this we will be doing through one night exhibitions as testers.

We have a foothold in several territories that we intend to develop over the coming years but it is now hopfully part of a larger plan that will need time to finalise.

Thx

For the feedback

Pat Mooney

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Whoever told the brilliant but out-of-touch Barry Hearn to co-opt Mooney and Parker onto the board misled him greatly.
I have little doubt BH will kick this pair into touch pretty soon.

9:10 PM


Yeah, that Barry Hearn. I always thought he was easily misled. I mean, there is obviously no possibility he actually has had dealings with these people prior to inviting them to join him on the board, is there?

Also, in the case of Brandon Parker, when you say "Overwhelmingly rejected", did nobody vote for him at all?
And his last unsuccessful attempt to join the board. Obviously there was no block voting to prevent him getting on, was there?
I mean, he is only one of the most successful snooker managers in recent times.

To 9.10 poster. Cut these people a bit of slack, and let them get on with bringing the game back from the abyss it was staring into courtesy of the previous board.

Anonymous said...

mooney and doyle are and have been the most successful managers by far are not the parker bloke ,give your head a shake !!! most of the players slag him ransid behind his back and that says everything to me. (posted by someone in the know for once !)

Anonymous said...

to 9:08 poster -most of the players slag WHO ransid behind his back? Really your lack of grammer makes understanding your post very tricky....

Anonymous said...

Anon 11.49 "grammer" - and you are slagging Anon 9.08???

Pot/kettle/black springs to mind!

Dave H said...

That's enough now, thanks

Anonymous said...

It's snookerbacker (4.35pm poster) again Pat, thanks for the response and this approach I agree is now a lot more sensible. Perhaps it might also help if more of the bookmakers took an interest in this, I know Sportingbet have done so in the past but perhaps persuading a few more to get involved might also help. If they do you can guarantee I will do a piece on my snooker / gambling blog to try and generate further interest, I've had nearly 4000 hits in a week and a half and I have had several contacts from mainland Europe since I set it up. Just a thought, and a very cheeky way of publicising my blog, sorry Dave, but I did pay you a compliment on it today!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

mooney and doyle are and have been the most successful managers by far are not the parker bloke...

9:08 PM


An apology to poster 9:08pm. When I said 'Manager' I was meaning someone who does a little bit more than simply take their percentage. I have not even seen Mr Doyle at an event, but that's just me, maybe he was always somewhere else at the venue.

As far as I am aware Mr Mooney manages - and has managed - only John Higgins, being a player who is a 'Tournament Winner'.

Mr Parker has managed - and been there with - the following players, namely: Paul Hunter, Matthew Stevens, Neil Robertson, & Shaun Murphy (there may be others).

But please, tell us what really upset's you about Brandon Parker.
Do it on this blog, with an account (i.e. not anonymous), and I will reply - not anonymously) to your real reasons as opposed to the throw-away comments so far, being totally bereft of substance.

I/we look forward to your response.

Anonymous said...

From the author of 4.06pm - sorry boss. Couldn't resist - will be a good boy from now on.

Dave H said...

Lee, Pat and Brandon are all sound and even if you disagree this is not the place for anonymous character assasination

Anonymous said...

History will soon show the mistake Barry has made appointing Messers Mooney and Higgins.

If, as a professional organisation, World Snooker had completed due diligence on Messers Mooney and Parker, I and many others 'truly' in the know, have no doubt that these chaps would be nowhere near World Snooker, never mind on the Board.

A little background check goes a long way and Barry will soon realise that these 'contacts' being bounced around as being a reason for this appointment are freely available to anyone wishing to hold a tournamane abroad. Internantional Event Management Companies, other sports and import and exporters seem to have no problem going global.

In terms of successful management, maybe it woould be worth asking players what they actually earned off table by their association with their prospective managers.

Looks to me like John Higgins has had all his success using his cue and not his managerial support. If anything, I would suggest that John has probably lost a few pounds due to his involvement in the stalled World Series of Snooker, which is now famous for not holding events rather than holding them.