China dominating snooker world after UK – Snooker Feature
With each passing year, the game of snooker is reaching different borders around the world after its emergence from India in 1875 at the time of English occupation when Colonel Sir Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain introduced the game and its name. Since then, the game has gone through many shifts and now it has become one of the most watched sports on television.
Until 2009, snooker was played mostly in the European countries and had a little exposure in other regions of the world. But after the current World Snooker Chairman, Barry Hearn joined the management; snooker has evolved rapidly across the globe especially in Asian countries. The sport is now making new shifts around the globe finding new homes.
For the past many years, the United Kingdom has dominated the sport and its management throughout the world but now the winds have changed and the conditions are titling towards China. Because the game was originated from Asian sub-continent, there is a natural acceptance for it among the people. The local snooker governing bodies have been working brilliantly promoting the sport in their countries.
Among these nations, China has stolen the limelight producing some of the best potters in the professional circuit. The likes of Ding Junhui have proved that they love snooker like any other country. Another contributing factor is the snooker fans in China who have an open heart towards the professionals whenever they come to play on Chinese soil.
Because of the most favourable environment in China, snooker is emerging as a major sport on the Chinese television and people do love to stumble upon the arenas to watch and support the game. Popularity of the game in Asian regions was inevitable because it was born here and besides, it needed to look ahead rather than dwelling on the past when it was played only in Europe.
Most of big guns of snooker are attracted towards China for its contribution to the game. They have expressed many times that they prefer playing in China because the playing environment there is magical which amazes instantly.
Recently, the Rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan spoke to the media about the Chinese people, “They treat you very well out there. I could live there, it’s all brilliant, the people, the food, the culture – in fact I may well end up living there. My eventual career might be there, I am in demand in China, they want the likes of me and Stephen Hendry.”
He added, “I love it there – it’s just the travelling over there for only a few days. If it was organised better we could have a six-week tour or road trip with the ranking events in that period. That would be much better, as it is a great country, there is no other like it and I love it.”
The former seven-time World Snooker Champion from Scotland, Stephen Hendry has been hired by the Chinese snooker governing body to coach their young potters.
Now, many exciting things are underway in the development of snooker around the globe because China is becoming a second home for snooker. Right now, the country holds international standard arenas that have the best of the facilities available. The Chinese people are very supportive towards the game and their players.
Currently, China is the second biggest producer of rookies in the game after the United Kingdom. Many Chinese potters have made their way into the professional circuit and participate in all major and minor ranking snooker events around the world.
In a recent announcement, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has said that China will host five major ranking events along with three minor ranking tournaments in a snooker season which is the second most number of events in any country after the UK. There are considerations in that China might be the second home for the World Snooker Championship.
However, for starters, the WPBSA has launched another mega event in China by the title of International Snooker Championship, which will commence this season which clearly shows the dominance of China over the game.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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