Exclusive | Snooker CEO drops Crucible hint, calls Hong Kong ‘icing on cake’ of global expansion
Simon Brownell sees China as breeding ground for sport’s growing ambitions, but adds Sheffield venue will always have a place
Moving snooker’s World Grand Prix to Hong Kong was an important step in taking prestigious events to new audiences, the sport’s top official has said, describing the explosion of interest in China as “astronomical”.
However, in an exclusive interview with the Post, Simon Brownell said venues such as the Crucible in Sheffield would still have a role for a game that would look to balance innovation with tradition.
The World Snooker Tour CEO did not believe there was any need to move his sport’s most prestigious tournament away from its historic home in Yorkshire, but was open to the idea of developing events of a similar calibre elsewhere, and highlighted the room for more events in an ever-growing Chinese market.
And while there was no need for “fundamental” change, the coronavirus pandemic had highlighted the need to “expand into new territories” and try new things.
“Riyadh has been hugely successful, Hong Kong is the icing on the cake for our expansion,” he said. “We need to take it to new audiences, to deliver something that’s accessible to them and where they feel like they can engage, and touch the sport themselves.
“The 167 Golden Ball is the most amazing addition to the snooker calendar, to see the golden ball on the table is fantastic. The maximum break, be it 147 or 167, is still the greatest spectacle within our sport.”
