Barry Hearn not happy about Brazil

Written by Rachael Rodgers
Barry Hearn World Snooker Ltd Chairman, has today released a angry letter naming and shaming players who have gone against his wishes and have pulled out of the Brazilian Masters which will take place soon after the Shanghai Masters.  His statement read....

"The fact that Mark Williams, John Higgins, Ding Junhui, Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Matthew Stevens have all declined their invitation to the Brazilian Masters is very, very disappointing.

“A year ago all these players were moaning about lack of tournaments and yet now I am getting excuses ranging from “I think I’m worth a few more bob” to “I do not want to be away from the wife and children!”

“It is time for all players and in particular the top players, who have so much to gain, to understand that snooker is a sport not a hobby and they are professional sportsmen not part timers.

“This tournament could open up the whole of South America and it needed the support of all the top players to get us a major ranking event next year. Frankly, the commitment is just not good enough.

“I know it is a long trip coming so soon after Shanghai but they were the only dates available so we had no alternative. Nevertheless, it is time some players realised their responsibilities to the sport if they want to share in the future success.

“So let us start by behaving like professionals please – there is a massive amount of effort going into revitalising snooker and it is very demotivating to see that the support from the so-called “stars” is not really there."


The event in Brazil maybe deeply exciting for the organisers and for World Snooker but it offers no ranking points, this may prove that money does not control all sport and that the players are more concerned about improving their ranking position, the top 100, all desperately seek a position in the top 16. Those is the top 16 have to fight hard to stay there, slipping out of the top 16 means that the players have to qualify for events, meaning they are away from home more and most soon becomes tight with travelling around the country and staying in hotels.


It is sad for the game that top players will not appear in Brazil but the future calendar needs to be looked at and structured more carefully so to not have so many events outside of the UK so close together.

 This is however the first year with more events and you can only make it better by learning for you're mistakes. Barry Hearn is a treasure to Snooker he cares and loves the sport I am sure he will make all run smoothly.