tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post3350194537654299563..comments2024-02-03T12:04:16.336+00:00Comments on SNOOKER SCENE BLOG: BJORN FREEDave Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-2542589575901626192011-11-18T14:13:21.645+00:002011-11-18T14:13:21.645+00:00I don't really see how that addresses the prob...I don't really see how that addresses the problem 1024; you're still going to have the same number of people earning a living from the game. Whether you have 50 people on the tour or 500, only the top 32 are going to make a liveable wage. The tour size won't alter this, but it determines how many players have access to the opportunity to make money from the sport. When the game went open and snooker was at its peak only a fraction (certainly less than half) of the pros had an adequate income from the game. Since the game lost the tobacco industry there has been a noticeable dip in quality, so clearly funding "mediocrity" does have a knock-on effect—even if that effect is simply just a factor in the number of people who attempt turning pro.Betty Logannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-81349564760811963942011-11-18T10:24:54.495+00:002011-11-18T10:24:54.495+00:00It seems absurd to have a "professional"...It seems absurd to have a "professional" circuit where fewer than half the members are able to earn a living from playing snooker.<br /> Why not reduce the tour to, say, 56 pros who would joined at each event by 8 "amateur" qualifiers with the Top 16 entering the draw at Round 1.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-71929660369282905122011-11-18T09:56:44.312+00:002011-11-18T09:56:44.312+00:00It's a very interesting article Dave and it sh...It's a very interesting article Dave and it shines a light on the difficulties highly talented foreign (and UK) pros face to make a living in this highly competitive and skillful sport. For an insight into what it's like for a UK-based pro, I can highly commend the Stuart Pettman biography "As sometimes seen on tv". Being able to make century breaks at will is no guarantee to success... it takes so much more.Colin Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-90248557463633980282011-11-18T09:49:20.842+00:002011-11-18T09:49:20.842+00:00@ Janie: Yes! You win a piece of chalk.... :-)@ Janie: Yes! You win a piece of chalk.... :-)Colin Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-41488225052670730942011-11-17T22:39:18.956+00:002011-11-17T22:39:18.956+00:00at Co said...
channel island. Do I win the quiz?at Co said...<br /><br />channel island. Do I win the quiz?Janie Watkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-43162413099310016762011-11-17T20:02:05.626+00:002011-11-17T20:02:05.626+00:00"A six-figure salary for the world no. 53&quo..."A six-figure salary for the world no. 53" is pushing it a bit... the 53rd highest earner back in 1988-9 (Warren King) won about £13k prize money, and prices since then have roughly doubled.Andrew B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054400570279868608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-10679171947675724622011-11-17T19:38:29.708+00:002011-11-17T19:38:29.708+00:00Correct Dave but they are still British. Next pop ...Correct Dave but they are still British. Next pop quiz: did the Nazis invade Britain and if so where?Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-76806205789333814602011-11-17T18:06:35.418+00:002011-11-17T18:06:35.418+00:00Eventually there should be enough money to reward ...Eventually there should be enough money to reward all players, the mediocrity Hearn currently refers to are the lower ranked players but these guys are professionals and among the best 96 (soon to be 128) players in the word so if half of them are mediocrity, what does that make all the amteurs fighting it out at PTCs, Q School etc.<br /><br />At the moment the money just isnt there, i think the Eastern market needs to be properly tapped into, its all very well holding more tournaments there but if there more of the same £300k events then thats not really setting the heather alight. With their booming economy and huge interest, tv figures etc there should be more money on the table from them.<br /><br />As for the qualifying, yes ive long been against the teired protective set up that exists. A flatter format modelled on the German Masters and even towards the PTC model of everyone (bar seeds) in the 1st round would be favourable to me. A more level playing field would also work better and easier if an Order of Merit is chosen as the new ranking system. <br /><br />The current set up too of the top 16 being at each event seems outdated IMO. Given the tour will be 128 strong, that means theres only 16 places available to the other 112 players so were going to hardly ever see a lot of the other players at venues. The argument that the BIG names must be at a venue for sake of TV, crowds, tickets, interest etc doesnt wash with me. I think reducing the elite from a top 16 down to a top 8 or 10 would work better. By making the priveleges to the elite available to fewer players, it would just raise the standards even higher. Im also thinking of the likes of Tennis where theres not the same protection for top guys but they rise to the challenge. Also a worldwide tour similar to tennis with challeneger events (PTCs? ) should ultimately be the way snooker goes.<br /><br />Oh ye have faith in Hearn.Witz78noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-6218696599401861082011-11-17T17:30:27.049+00:002011-11-17T17:30:27.049+00:00Thank you Dave, good writing about
Björn. I were i...Thank you Dave, good writing about<br />Björn. I were in Riga too, the opponent in the final were Kurt Maflin and it went to a decider.<br />Björn was flowing in those days and played a musical kind of snooker + a 147 in the europeans.<br />For us on the mainland, Björn Haneveer, Kristian Helgason,Björn Lorange and Robin Hull are the true heroes in a very upphill world.kimballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-80027965096701962022011-11-17T13:57:39.050+00:002011-11-17T13:57:39.050+00:00exactly 1.41
if players cant make it they move on...exactly 1.41<br /><br />if players cant make it they move on to something else Bjorn Haneveer has done it in a dignified way and good luck to him for the future.<br /><br />Barry Hearns priority is the sport and where it will be in 10 or 20 years he cant worry about players thats their job to do that.wildnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-57961979462416474042011-11-17T13:56:30.214+00:002011-11-17T13:56:30.214+00:00Can of worms time, but on a strict geographical ba...<i>Can of worms time, but on a strict geographical basis they weren't British, they were from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland</i><br /><br />On strict geographical grounds, then anyone from the British Isles is British! Just like Russians are European even though they're not in the EU. And how Brazilians are American, even though they are not American nationals. Basically Northern Irish are British any way you look at it, unless they leave the Union.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-55325288139841366082011-11-17T13:41:59.431+00:002011-11-17T13:41:59.431+00:0012.34, what do you expect hearn to do? Pay everyon...12.34, what do you expect hearn to do? Pay everyone on the tour a wage and run snooker at a loss? Im sure he'll take your comments on board(snigger)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-71855922730256551892011-11-17T13:26:15.552+00:002011-11-17T13:26:15.552+00:00bh was a great player and a great guy
defo top 32...bh was a great player and a great guy<br /><br />defo top 32 material, but as you said, circumstances.....<br /><br />good luck in the future bjornAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-32191538857263631922011-11-17T12:34:57.535+00:002011-11-17T12:34:57.535+00:00Bjorn is being realistic. Good luck to him.
Dave,...Bjorn is being realistic. Good luck to him.<br /><br />Dave, I think you are correct by saying that the finances are only part of the reason for his retirement, but I believe it is BY FAR the major reason. <br /><br />How many of the 96 (and next year 128) players are making a loss? <br /><br />By increasing the playing tour, Hearn is making MORE money knowing full well that most, if not all the extra 32 players will enter the events hoping to find that crock of gold but will not even see the rainbow. Look at Brecel and Filipiak, huge talents but struggling hugely.<br /><br />Lambs to the slaughter!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-47569524234745232742011-11-17T12:07:34.339+00:002011-11-17T12:07:34.339+00:00Can of worms time, but on a strict geographical ba...Can of worms time, but on a strict geographical basis they weren't British, they were from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (indeed Dennis still is)Dave Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-52771918850865243272011-11-17T11:51:34.769+00:002011-11-17T11:51:34.769+00:00You have got to be kidding 147!!!!!You have got to be kidding 147!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-58149880307414059212011-11-17T10:34:52.614+00:002011-11-17T10:34:52.614+00:00Good blog dave.I thought Alex Higgins and Dennis T...Good blog dave.I thought Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor also moved to Britain Dave they were also successful non-british players.147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-40080961370651247512011-11-17T10:18:39.300+00:002011-11-17T10:18:39.300+00:00Although I wouldn't be a fan of Haneveer or hi...Although I wouldn't be a fan of Haneveer or his playing style I am always disappointed when a non brit drops off the tour.<br /><br />I look forward to the day when the top 16 is comprised of ten or twelve different nationalities, competing in as many countries.<br /><br />Seems a long way away yet though. Its so difficult for a foreigner to even get on the tour and stay on, never mind move up to the top end. Hanaveer is a perfect example. As you say, the best ever player to come from Belgium, a snooker mad country, and his highest ever ranking a modest 53.<br /><br />Imagine the top 16 having a German, a pole, a Dutchman, a Canadian and a Brazilian battling it out in the quarters with Ding and Robertson in tournaments all over the world.<br /><br />Then we would know snooker had arrived.kildare cuemannoreply@blogger.com