Many think that over the number of decades, Snooker unfortunately has failed to maintain its status as an entertaining sport. However, this contemplation is arguable in a sense that Snooker still is loved, played and watched by millions all over the world,
mostly in Europe and Asia.
Snooker which was invented in South Asia by the English Army-personnel almost two hundred years ago, is still played and regarded as a career oriented, professional sport. Unfortunately, one may find lots of negative criticism about the sport on internet.
Many people call it bogus, time-wasting, and a boring sport. To one’s bewilderment most of the material is not based on facts and perhaps written by someone who has never played Snooker in real life.
Snooker is a slow but a decent and charismatic sport as there is no room for vuvuzelas and people fighting each other in the auditorium. Unfortunately, most of the critics of Snooker do not understand the game themselves. It can be really boring indeed if
you are playing it for the first time. When you start understanding the nature of the game and gain control on your shots, it can be surprisingly challenging and interesting.
Surely, there is some problem with today's Snooker, and something has to be done in-order to rectify the problem. The problem lies somewhere in the imaging of the sport. To a person who does not know Snooker, it is just a cue sport played on a big green
baize table with colourful balls. Definitely, Snooker will look to be a boring and an un-interesting sport without the knowledge and understanding of it. Same is the case with other sports, for instance a viewer cannot enjoy golf or baseball until he or she
knows the sport.
Snooker fans admit that at times it becomes slow, but many have seen Ronnie O’Sullivan scoring 147 points in less than eight minutes in a single break, crowd cheering and blowing whistles, young people wearing T-shirts with Ronnie’s name on them came rushing
to shake hands and congratulate him. This fastest 147 from Ronnie which is also a Guinness world record has more than 1.8 million views on YouTube, which signifies a large pool of Snooker fans.
Snooker has survived for centuries and the reason for its survival is obvious, the transmission of knowledge from existing generation to the next one. Evidently, young generation takes interest in the sport worldwide, which is why the sport is still there
and is being played at every level. Still at big Snooker matches, much of the audience comprises of young people which is a positive sign.
All that needs to be done is to open up the sport a bit more, as for the people who do not understand it and find the sport apparently boring can have an insight. Unlike Pool, Darts or Wrestling, Snooker is all about control, strategy, planning and handling
immense pressure.
Its just not about potting the balls abruptly, the game has manners and a complete formation to it. As already mentioned there is so much more to the game, rather just potting the balls.
According to Snooker experts there are above one hundred different sides of the striker where you can hit it. The striker acts and responds accordingly, for instance if you hit the striker a little lower in the bottom it will roll back-in after hitting the
desired ball. Manoeuvring of the striker is of significance as it can go where ever you want it to go, which helps a player in positioning for the next ball he wants to play.
This control comes with years of effort and hard work and Snooker is indeed a demanding yet rewarding sport.
Steps have been taken to re-brand the sport, as there is immense desire among the fans to revamp the sport and spread its knowledge and charisma. Sir Rodney Walked who was chairing the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has been replaced
by the legendary Steve Davis and Barry Hearn. Barry is the man who has played a vital role in prosperity of Darts as a game.
Suggestions
Doubtlessly Snooker is one of the greatest sports, but it has to be polished a little and be more open to alien visitors. The imaging problem of Snooker can be solved by organising more world tours, more ranking and invitational events should take place
to encourage the fresh blood.
A faster version of Snooker can do the job. With fewer red balls, a fast Snooker match can pump more enthusiasm into the game as Twenty20 has done for cricket. It is not about changing the game but infact, it is about changing its image.
The legends of the game should be given more exposure, such as a cooking show with Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins can help to change the current image of Snooker and can bring the game back into public’s eye. Snooker players have dedicated their lives
to the sport and they should be brought into the spot light.
WPBSA can arrange learning and development tours to different parts of the world specially Asia and Middle-East where Snooker is a big hit.
Accompanied by senior and renowned cueists the delegation can visit different clubs, teach young people and spread the knowledge. Breaking the concentration of Snooker is important, as it is mostly played and watched in United Kingdom.
There is a great need to introduce the game to different communities and help people understand the sport, which is the only way Snooker can regain its status as an entertaining and challenging sport.
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