25 April 2024 , 08:15
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Barry Hearn has warned snooker rebels that they would be sacrificing earnings by joining any 'LIV-style' breakaway tour.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has already committed his long-term future to the professional tour after signing a three-year ambassadorial deal with Saudi Arabia. That ended speculation that he could soon retire, with the 48-year-old currently bidding for his eighth World Snooker Championship title.
And although Hearn has said some players would be silly not to sign up for a rival tour, he believes in the commercial power of the World Snooker Tour (WST). Next season, prize money could rise to £20million for the first time, while there is an alternative offer for stars to play in eight events for a guaranteed sum of £350,000.
Hearn said: "Every individual has got to make the right choice as to what's going to benefit himself and his family. And if you are coming towards the end of a career, you'd be insane not to go where the best money is.
"Frankly, I know those sort of breakaway tours don’t really have a great deal of commercial value. I've heard figures of £2-300,000 guaranteed. Well if you’re in the top 16 next year, you're going to be guaranteed £200,000 before you take your cue out."
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Meanwhile, Hearn has also warned Sheffield City Council that the World Snooker Championship could be moved if they do not build a new Crucible Theatre. O'Sullivan has called for the tournament to be moved to Asia, while Hossein Vafaei launched a scathing attack on the venue earlier this week.
World Snooker Tour president Barry Hearn (Getty Images)"Nothing much has changed," Hearn added. "I am doing absolutely everything to stay in Sheffield. But it takes two to tango - I'll stay here while we are wanted. I know we are wanted by the BBC, I think we're wanted by Sheffield.
"But they've got to be realistic and we have said for the last few years we need a new venue that seats 2,500-3,000 people because I am fed up of getting letters from people all over the world asking how they can get a ticket.
"I'm looking to Sheffield to come to the party and if they do, we're staying. And if they don't, they're really saying to me 'We don't want you'. So it's not really my call.
"Trust me, money has the edge every time. We live in the real world, if there are deals out there that are going to change people's lives and increase profitability, there's not really a choice to make."
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