Snooker: War will end with one tour, predicts breakaway boss
Friday, 16 February 2001 16:28Snooker's civil war will end with only one tour standing according to the man threatening the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's monopoly of the sport. George Smith, chief executive of The Sportsmasters Network's breakaway tour, predicted the death of the WPBSA, claiming to have the majority of top players on his side, including Ireland's Ken Doherty and other star players such as Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry.
"I still believe there will be one tour at the end of the day," he said. "It is clearly in the interests of the sport to have the best players on view and I believe we have the best players on view - 11 of the top 16 says it all. About 11 of the top 16 in the world have currently signed up for us, plus I'm told about 12 of the next 16 and there is a whole host of other players as well."
Smith believes TSN has the necessary financial backing, adding: "We first of all raised a substantial amount of money about a year ago and obviously that is the core of the finance of the business. But clearly we are looking at broadcast and sponsorship to supplement the tour. We raised over £10million last year, and we are looking to raise further funds."
TSN's tour will start in August and will not clash with this year's world championship at The Crucible, Sheffield, but Smith cast doubt on that venue's future as the home of the sport. "We've said all along our tour starts in August this year, so this year's championship in Sheffield goes ahead as normal. In our first year The Crucible clearly has been reserved by another organisation.
"When you talk about the home of the world championships, this year the FA Cup is to be played in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and the Rugby League Challenge Cup, which has a longer his history than snooker at Sheffield, last year was played at Murrayfield in Scotland."
Filed by Seán Folan
