Hearn's million dollar masterplan for snooker

That was the message today from the World Snooker supremo who was responding to Ronnie O'Sullivan suggesting that such money would never come into the sport.

Sitting to Hearn's right at the launch event for this season's Betfred.com World Championship, which starts on April 17 in Sheffield and offers a top prize to the winner of 250,000, O'Sullivan initially gave his assessment on where snooker might go under Hearn's leadership.

"Snooker has kind of found its level and to think we'll be paying one million dollar prizes like in golf, I don't think that's ever going to be achievable in snooker," O'Sullivan said.

"But if you look at what's happened with darts (since Hearn became involved in its promotion), if snooker could compete at that level then it will have become a success.

"I don't think we can dream of earning the kind of money tennis players, golfers or footballers get. But as long as we've got a busy calendar and lots of playing opportunities, if you win you'll be rewarded."