Barry Hearn says snooker has the expertise to thrive as soon as Ronnie O’Sullivan retires from the game: “We will find the next level and we do have youngsters coming through with enormous ability, particularly Chinese youngsters”; Hearn reiterates that World Championship may go away Sheffield
Final Up to date: 16/08/24 11:18am
Barry Hearn feels Ronnie O’Sullivan, 48, has a very long time left in top-level snooker
Barry Hearn informed Sky Sports activities he’s assured snooker will survive as soon as Ronnie O’Sullivan retires as he once more spoke concerning the World Championship doubtlessly transferring across the globe if a brand new and bigger Crucible just isn’t constructed in Sheffield.
Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, 48, stays the most important attract snooker, 32 years after he and fellow ‘Class of 92’ gamers Mark Williams and John Higgins turned skilled.
Snooker’s future has been a sizzling subject of late with The Crucible, which has hosted the World Championship yearly since 1977, seeing its contract to stage the occasion finish in 2027.
Hearn says there may be a whole lot of expertise coming by way of in snooker, notably in China
Former World Snooker chairman Hearn is hoping for a brand new venue to be constructed within the Yorkshire metropolis – with the present area solely holding 980 folks – and insists the “first choice” is to stay in Sheffield however has not dominated out heading abroad on a rotational foundation.
Hearn mentioned on O’Sullivan: “Ronnie is a genius and doesn’t follow the normal patterns of most sportsmen and women – that’s an understatement.
“He’s 48 and might be taking part in in addition to he ever has in his life, so I can see this younger man happening so long as he desires.
“But we are involved in growing the sport around the world as well and the signs are there. We have to create the next ‘Class of 92’ that have dominated unbelievably for 30-odd years.
“We’ll discover the subsequent stage and we do have kids coming by way of with monumental capability, notably Chinese language kids.
“But let’s wat and see how they develop. The ‘Class of 92’ are clearly not yet finished.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sky Sports activities’ Cam Hogwood explains how the Snooker World Championship could possibly be set to maneuver from the event’s iconic Crucible
‘Crucible is our residence – however must be match for objective’
On whether or not the World Snooker Championship will go away Sheffield, Hearn mentioned: “I think the current scene in snooker will very much fall at the feet of Sheffield City Council.
“We love Sheffield – it has been our residence for 40 years and has received the historical past. Nevertheless it must be match for objective.
“Sheffield City Council are looking, hopefully with success, at finding the new Crucible but if that doesn’t happen then we have to keep our options open.
“I do not suppose it is a query of claiming, ‘our new house is Saudi Arabia’ but when Sheffield do not provide you with the kind of package deal we would like – a 3,000-seater – World Snooker would look to take the World Championship all over the world.
“You may find that one year it is in Saudi, one year in Beijing etc. One year it may come back to Sheffield. Our first choice is to stay in Sheffield – please make it happen.”
