Barry Hearn disappointed over top players not participating in 2011 Brazil Masters
World Snooker chairman, Barry Hearn is quite disappointed over the absence of top players in 2011 Brazil Masters. The snooker chief has been working real hard to promote the game of snooker and stretch its borders to other countries as well. He has been
quite successful in bringing the game to other boundaries as well as increasing its viewership among all age groups.
The 2011 Brazil Masters snooker tournament was yet another effort from him but the decision from some top players not to take part in the event has made Hearn angry and furious. He believes if the players want the game to be recognised everywhere, they must
play their role participating in each tournament including 2011 Brazil Masters.
The list of players who are not competing in 2011 Brazil Masters include Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Allen from England, John Higgins and Stephen Maguire from Scotland, Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens from Wales, Ding Junhui of China and Neil
Robertson from Australia. Hearn reckons these players should have been present in Brazil but they declined their invitations, which is wrong according to him.
While speaking to the local media about his concerns over the event, Hearn said, “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.”
He added, “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 to understand that snooker is a sport not a hobby and they are professional sportsmen not part timers.”
Hearn talked about the 2011 Brazil Masters and said that the invitational tournament can open doors for the game to the whole of South America and they can have a lot of support and viewership from the people there. He believed the support from all top players
would help World Snooker launch a major ranking tournament in Brazil next year.
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