Seven-time world snooker champions Ronnie O’Sullivan is advocating for a plan that would boost the sport in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and John Higgins has given his verdict
Snooker legend John Higgins has enthusiastically backed Ronnie O’Sullivan’s radical plan to allow snooker in Britian and Ireland to blossom, and would love to be involved. The seven-time world champion has advocated for academies to be launched in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in a bid to stop a Chinese takeover of the sport.
A record 10 players from China made it to this year’s World Snooker Championship, with four players among the top 16 seeds. Seven of those players are in their 20s, with two Wu Yize and Lei Peifan only 21.
The nation had previously had two seeded players on five occasions, with trailblazer Ding Junhui being the first Chinese player to reach the Crucible back in 2007. The 38-year-old remains the highest ranked player from his homeland.
But China appears set to continue to blossom as a snooker nation. Most of those playing at the Crucible came through an academy in Beijing, and the country has also set up two bases in Sheffield.
And now the Rocket wants to see a new offering across nations. O’Sullivan would lead an academy in England, and Class of 92 rivals Higgins and Mark Williams could front the ones in Scotland and Wales respectively, in his proposal.
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Four-time champion Higgins, who remains world No.3 and is set to take on three-time winner Williams in this year’s quarter-finals would only be happy to involved. “It’s a brilliant idea,” he said.
“I would love it if Scotland could invest in something like that. Snooker’s been an unbelievable sport for Scotland with Stephen Hendry starting the revolution and a lot of us following his lead.
“I would be up for anything like that. If Sport Scotland were up for investing in something like that then I would definitely love to be involved.
“It would be incredible if that could lead to players coming through from Scotland.”
O’Sullivan would love to see a renewed push for British talent in the sport and believes an intervention is required to keep up with the growth in China.
“I’ve seen what they do in China, I’ve seen what the runners do in Kenya, it’s about time we do something in this country to give the kids a chance,” he said, per the Times.
“We need to put some academies in place here. I’d love to see one in Wales, one in Scotland, one in England and one in Ireland. John Higgins can front one in Scotland, Mark Williams in Wales, me here, and maybe Ken Doherty in Ireland — or something like that. Get kids from as young as seven or eight, send them to the academy and get the kids playing.
“Life’s tough in the UK for everybody so it’s a good chance for youngsters to come to a safe place, learn a trade — that’s what snooker is — and then we can do what China’s doing, which is churning out champions.
“We’re a bit thin on the ground with British talent, that’s what I’m saying. It’d be helpful if we can get some academies over here. It might take ten, 15, 20 years, but we can do it.”
“I’d love to get behind it, I’d love to support it and put my name to it,” he added. I don’t know how you get funding, I really don’t know, but it’d be good if we can. In China the government gets behind it and the same in Saudi Arabia, but I’m sure there’s ways we can do it.
“We’re really not looking at millions of pounds, we’re looking at maybe a few hundred thousand. Just pay the rent, get maybe ten tables, a nice building where you’ve got enough space and pay a few coaches to go there. At least put the infrastructure in place to allow young kids to come in and get better at snooker.”
