Idea for the World 14.1 Championship

C

Cameron Smith

is kind of hungry...
Silver Member
I don't know how well this would actually work, in actuality I just think it would be cool.

However it seems as though there are extra spots in the tournament each year. Barry Hearn of the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) is looking to expand snooker into North America. A good way to do that would be get our pool fans aquainted with their players.

The idea is to perhaps contact Hearn and invite three or four top snooker players. For example, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and the current World Snooker Champion.

This tournament is excellent for this concept because of the initial group stages. Each player will get at least 4 (5?) matches so it's not like they can all be knocked out after a match or two. It may create more interest for the non-14.1 fan and introduce people to a few snooker players.

Thoughts?
 
Cameron Smith said:
I don't know how well this would actually work, in actuality I just think it would be cool.

However it seems as though there are extra spots in the tournament each year. Barry Hearn of the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) is looking to expand snooker into North America. A good way to do that would be get our pool fans aquainted with their players.

The idea is to perhaps contact Hearn and invite three or four top snooker players. For example, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and the current World Snooker Champion.

This tournament is excellent for this concept because of the initial group stages. Each player will get at least 4 (5?) matches so it's not like they can all be knocked out after a match or two. It may create more interest for the non-14.1 fan and introduce people to a few snooker players.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...


I would love to see the top snooker players play straight pool. Yet I feel they won't want to come here and play in the event, Ronnie and Hendry and the older guys in particular. Maybe the young ones like Robertson and Maguire are still brash enough to want to prove themselves in a foreign game.
 
I think that is a cool idea. Not sure if Charlie has asked them in the past but would be surprised if he had not.

I will message him with this idea.

I know there was at least one spot several years ago that could have been filled with a player rather than fodder.;)
 
I would be more interested in seeing snooker players attempt 14.1 than the occasion sighting in 9B or 10B tourneys. IMO, 14.1 would fit their game much more than rotation games. They know how to move around & open up the stack.
 
dmgwalsh said:
I think that is a cool idea. Not sure if Charlie has asked them in the past but would be surprised if he had not.

I will message him with this idea.

I know there was at least one spot several years ago that could have been filled with a player rather than fodder.;)
Click to expand...

If he has tried it, the thing for Charlie to realize is that the landscape of snooker has changed in the last year. Barry Hearn he is more willing to try new things and take chances than Sir Rodney Walker. So it's worth another go.

The biggest stumbling block I can think of is perhaps limited exposure of the event due to the subculture nature of 14.1 and the fact that it is pay per view. But I think his best bet to creating interest overseas is to target the pool fans. And the fact that we never see snooker players competing in 14.1 lends a sort of extra buzz to the situation as mosconaic alluded to.

Thinking about player choices though, I would hope that they are decided based on a certain criteria. For example sending the world champion and the number 1 ranked player or something like that. I think sending any two random pro snooker players kind of makes a mockery of the event and sends a negative message.
 
Given the prize money disparity between straight pool and snooker, would the top players actually fly across the Atlantic to play?

I'd love to see it; I just wonder if it makes sense for them.
 
TSW said:
Given the prize money disparity between straight pool and snooker, would the top players actually fly across the Atlantic to play?

I'd love to see it; I just wonder if it makes sense for them.
Click to expand...

They're only really getting big money in major ranking tournaments. So any of the smaller pro tournaments they're only playing for about $10,000 first prize I think. So If the World Straight Pool pays that or similar, I think it would make some sense.

But I'm wondering that if Barry Hearn sees this as a marketing opportunity he may foot the bill for accomodations.
 
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