Verbal brawl between Mark Allen and Barry Hearn takes new shape - 2011 UK Championship
A couple of days ago, Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen criticised Barry Hearn’s steps to make changes in the playing format of 2011 UK Championship, being held at the York Barbican Centre.
Allen said that Hearn was here only to make money for himself and that he did not fulfill his promise that he will not make any changes to the Triple Crown, the UK Championship, Masters and World Snooker Championship. The Northern Irishman added that Hearn
should go away and let someone else take charge.
Allen was quite unhappy because of the alteration made in the traditional formats of several tournaments like Players Tour Championship and the UK Championship. Allen spoke to the media that Hearn is not pleasing too many players with such changes. He believes
that Hearn will also tweak the World Snooker Championship.
On the other hand, the World Snooker chairman, Hearn, replied that he does not bother about any silly comments coming from a silly boy’s mouth. Besides, he has also threatened to sue Allen for his remarks, as Hearn was disappointed by the Pistol’s comments.
Hearn believed the changes he has made so far have not only brought improvement into the game but have also attracted a massive number of viewers, especially youngsters who never watched the game before because of its slow playing style and time consuming
format.
The chairman said that snooker ratings have increased and ticket sales are 50 percent more now due to the initiatives he took in the last 18 months. In sports, changes are an essential part, as one has to go with what the spectators want to see. People were
getting bored due to old formats and a slow playing rate, so he made some essential changes that have enhanced the game for viewers across the world. Hearn is now thinking to take legal advice on the matter. Meanwhile, the world snooker disciplinary committee
will take actions against Allen.
However, this verbal brawl took a new turn when the 25-year-old Allen stood on his comments saying that whatever he said was true. He held a press conference where he came wearing a tape on his mouth, sending a message to the world that he has no freedom
of speech, but after a while he was offensive against Hearn’s policies and gave the impression that he is unrepentant.
Speaking to the local electronic and print media during the press conference, Allen said, “I've had lots of criticism over the years and I'm not going to change that now just because I'm outspoken and speak my mind. Other players just don't have the balls
to do it.”
The Antrim potter added, “I don't think I said too much out of line. Obviously I swore, which is bang out of order and I apologise again for that, but I still stand by the rest of the things I said. I think there's a lot of truth in the comments that I made.
I don't really mind. I'm here to play snooker at the end of the day. It's nice to get a win and I don't really care about the criticism.”
Before Allen, many other top snooker guns including John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, criticised Hearn for making such alterations. The snooker chief has been receiving comments from several players that he did not keep his words about the Triple Crown.
Hearn should take this matter seriously into reconsideration and should respect the opinion of other players.
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