Short snooker on the cards

THE chairman of World Snooker believes a new condensed form of the game could help snooker replicate the success of Twenty20 cricket.

Sir Rodney Walker is eager to attract new fans with a fresh take on the sport and there are reports that the new format would feature only six colours on the table, with games intended to last an average of six or seven minutes.

It is thought that it will be trialled at the World Championships in Sheffield at the end of the month with a legends versus rising stars tournament.

Walker said: “As an observer of snooker you cannot churn out the same diet year after year. Look at what Twenty20 has done for cricket.

“It has brought in a whole new audience so what we have in mind we think would be appealing to a younger audience.

“The working party who looked into this thought that a six–ball tournament with matches that take an average of six to seven minutes to play, with maybe the best of five, best of 10 frames (could work).

“We think it would give players other than top–rank players chances of winning because once you get on the table with fewer balls other people have a chance.”

Sir Rodney also admits he is unsure whether Sheffield will continue to host the sport’s World Championships.

The Crucible Theatre, widely regarded as the home of the sport, has been the venue for the championships since 1977.

Sir Rodney championed the cause of keeping them in Sheffield when he assumed the role of the head of the sport’s governing body in 2004.

One year on from his appointment, Walker decided to award Sheffield a five–year contract to keep the tournament at the Crucible – despite interest from another five UK cities.

He spoke proudly of his decision to keep the tournament at the city of steel at the time but now concedes the championships may move abroad, possibly to China, where snooker is booming in popularity.

He said: “There’s no doubt that they (China) have expressed an interest in hosting the tournament on more than one occasion to me, and we have also had a general inquiry from the Middle East.

“But as a proud Yorkshireman, I hope Sheffield will be able to come up with an offer that makes it difficult for us to take it away from the city.”

Three–time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted in January he was becoming bored of the sport and it needed to be completely overhauled to survive.