Players must get fitter to cope with demands '“ Hearn

The World Snooker chairman announced the lucrative long-term deal yesterday at the Betfred World Championship in Sheffield.

Hearn hailed it “one of the biggest announcements in snooker” that will bring financial security to the sport, and allow it to expand even further.

Snooker already holds tournaments across Europe, China, India and Australia, and Eurosport have been screening the sport since 2003.

“It’s a landmark deal and gives us security,” said Hearn. “It’s worth bundles and bundles and bundles. All we can say it’s a multi, multi-million dollar deal.

“This is not the end of the road by announcing a big deal, this is the beginning of the road to global domination.

“We have 10 years with a major broadcaster. From the players’ perspective, a few years ago they didn’t know where the next job or pound note was coming from; they can now plan their future.

“They can concentrate on their career knowing these opportunities exist.

“These are changing times in snooker. Players are going to have to be much physically fitter, to cope with the demands we set them. They have to be mentally fitter to cope with the pressure of top-class sport.

“Because of contracts like this we can be more professional in the way we apply ourselves.

“But it’s not just a question of take the money and run. It’s about reinvestment in our sport to grow to new heights.

“Our job is to push the boundaries, to require more from the players – not less – to require greater degrees of professionalism, for which there is no retreat, and to expand this sport for those who want to follow snooker, either as a spectator or player.

“I promoted my first snooker event 42 years ago – this is arguably the biggest day I have had in 42 years.”

The semi-final line-up in Sheffield is proof of the growing worldwide appeal of snooker, with China’s Ding Junhui and Hong Kong’s Marco Fu up against world No 1 Mark Selby and Scotland’s Alan McManus.

The success of Ding and Fu over the last 12 days has added weight for calls to move the World Championship from its traditional Crucible home to China.

But Hearn repeated his vow yesterday that “in his lifetime” the World Championship will stay in Sheffield.

“The one thing you can’t mess with is history,” said Hearn, “and the history of this event belongs to the people of Sheffield, and the Crucible Theatre.

“From a businessman’s perspective, that’s difficult for me to say that because clearly I have an event which could sell many more thousands of tickets (in China).

“But sometimes there are things that you can’t mess with, and this in my lifetime – with the support of the people of Sheffield, the BBC, Eurosport –is not something that is going to change.

“The idea of the FA Cup final not being played at Wembley, Wimbledon not being played at Wimbledon, sits in the same description as snooker in Sheffield.”

Sheffield-based Ding was in dominant form yesterday, opening up a 6-2 lead – including four century breaks – over McManus, 45, in their semi-final while Selby led 5-3 against Fu.