Scots are excited by Hearns revolution

World champion John Higgins and world number two Stephen Maguire have given their full backing to Barry Hearn's plans to expand the snooker season.

Hearn, the new chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, will reveal his manifesto at the end of the month but has already promised a vastly increased workload.

The sports promoter branded some players ‘lazy’ and doubted whether his proposals would be universally popular, but he will have little trouble seeing them accepted if the two Scots are representative of the wider circuit.

Higgins, 34, said: ‘It would be fantastic to be worked harder, because we've only had about six or seven tournaments this year, which is not nearly enough.

‘He is thinking about over 20 snooker events next year, which would be great.

‘From a marketing point of view, Barry Hearn is a great man to have on board.

‘You've seen how he changed other sports, like darts, so we're hoping he can do something similar with snooker. It will be hard but we'll just have to put our faith in him.’

As well as an expansion of the season, Higgins wants to see the sport broaden its geographical horizons.

The three-time world champion: ‘I think we would like to have more tournaments in Europe because we know there is a big market out there.

‘I'm involved with the World Series of Snooker where we went to different European countries and there is a big market.

‘So we're hoping he can tap into that and have some better places to go and play snooker, because it's better than just going to places like Preston. It would be great to go to different countries.’

Higgins has just joined Maguire in making his base at the new Q Club in the south side of Glasgow, and both players are in full agreement over Hearn's initial ideas.

Maguire, 29, said: ‘From what I've heard, he's talking about running 20 tournaments over the season.

‘If that comes off and we're playing snooker every two weeks, I think it's perfect.

‘After the World (Championship), usually that's us for three-and-a-half months, which is a long, long time.

‘All you need is two weeks' holiday. It's like everybody, once you're off work it gets pretty boring.’

Hearn is unsure whether players will want to sign up for tournaments that fail to match the lucrative nature of the established events.

But Maguire said: ‘You don't expect anyone to come in and start running 20 tournaments worth £100,000 to the winner.

‘That would be brilliant but he has to start somewhere. A few grand here and there is still money I would rather have in my pocket than any of the other players'. I'll be entering every tournament.’

The pair will both fly out for the China Open next Friday but their preparations for next month's World Championship will be very much intertwined in Glasgow's second Q Club.

Magurie said: ‘It's great for the two of us to play in the same club again, it's been a few years since we've done that.

‘And it's great that it's happening a month before the World Championship. It means we can beat each other up and get match-sharp.

‘It's all good banter as well. There is Alan McManus and Marcus Campbell playing here as well, so there is going to be a bit of banter which will help us get up in the morning and come in and practise.’

Higgins added: ‘It's great practice for us all. It's always good to have a bit of camaraderie with the boys, it makes the day go a lot quicker as well.’