Hearn hits out at ‘lazy’ players

WORLD SNOOKER chairman Barry Hearn has defended the changes he has made to the game — and insisted there is no place for “lazy” players.

Mark Allen called for Hearn to resign after he shortened matches in ranking events such as last week’s UK Championship in York.

But Hearn said: “I’ve done an amazing job with snooker. I’ve got the lazy whatnots out of bed and going to work because working-class people are supposed to go to work.”

Hearn was appointed chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association two years ago, before taking up his current role with the governing body’s commercial arm in June 2010.

Hearn has expanded the tournament schedule around the world while also cutting the length of matches in a bid to boost attendances and television viewing figures.

“The game is entertaining; we’re making it more exciting,” Hearn said yesterday.

“I’ve taken events from seven a year to 30. I’ve more than doubled the prize money.

“Some of [the players] don’t like it. They want a bit of a comfortable life and trust me when I tell you they are not going to get it.

“The format — getting the game more exciting, seeing results, delivering what the public want — that’s been shown. At York we sold double the number of tickets we did last year.”

Hearn last week described Allen, who reached the final in York, as a “silly little boy” and refused to rule out taking legal action over the Northern Irish player’s comments.