Why Not a Big Event in China?

WHY NOT?

Over the last couple of years, China have been very good for Snooker, with a big investment and big arenas. Their goal now, is to get a Big Event played there.

We know that the World Championship won't be going to China, because there's a lot of tradition at the Crucible, and the Crucible Theatre and Sheffield City are giving to the tournament all it's need, no improvement is needed, and the World Snooker Chairman have said the World Championship will keep at the Crucible as long as he is live.

The Masters don't have a traditional venue, but it's played in London, which is for most of the players the best place to play Snooker. And of course, BBC have a lot of influence at this tournament and they won't allow it to be played in China.

I have here, 2 ideas of how a Big Event could be played in China:

UK Championship's Revolution

Barbican Centre and York City couldn't cope with the "128 Draw" very well, and the UK Championship,

Ding is a twice UK Champion

tournament which used to be the 2nd biggest tournament of the Snooker calendar, is living a decline.

And we know that China have many arenas which could support that very well, and cities with a very good structure to receive the players, there's an option then:
China would make an revolution with the UK Championship, giving to it another venue, and a new name, "Asian Championship".
Changes could be good and the tournament could back to live it's glorious years.
The champions keep the same, for example, Steve Davis could be 6 times Asian Champion (old UK Championship), as we've seen with a lot of tournaments which have changed the name.

ITV and China working together

ITV also wants a Big Event, we can see it from their decision to create tournaments called "Grand Prix" and "Champion of Champions".

O`Sullivan won the inaugural Champion of Champions

The Grand Prix will be played for the first time, but the inaugural Champion of Champions - played in England -, was a big success, due to it's format.
China could invest in a big arena and, with the help of ITV makes of it a Big Event so both Chinese Govern and ITV Channel would be happy.

Unfortunately, there's a problem with both events, BBC and ITV are British channels, so they may don't have any interest to coverage a Chinese event, but they could do like Eurosport does in some Chinese events: Share the broadcast with a Chinese channel.
Well, I can't see BBC doing that, so the idea of the Champion of Champions turn a Big Event, is more possible.
I also don't think BBC will allow another channel to coverage a Big Event, so if this plan gets success, BBC will probably "buy" this event. But it will be just a gain for World Snooker, because they will have another tournament on BBC.






Some British guys don't like the way that China is growing in Snooker, but for me, as many people liking Snooker, better. Principally with China, a country with a billion of peoples.
I think United Kingdom will always be the Center of Snooker in the World, but I also want Snooker to turn a global sport.
And a Big Event in China is not just good for globalization, it's good for the fans and for World Snooker as well. Let's think:

• The 3 Snooker's Big Events are played over 6 month, in other words we have 6 months without any Big Event. Could be good to have one Big Events along these 6 months.
• With 4 Big Events, World Snooker could make more money, and more Snooker buzz.

The point is that both World Snooker and China is investing money on news Chinese Events, and they are just losing money because to create a Big Event you need to give for the fans something they like, tradition, and buzz.

Put a lot of money and Ranking Points in tournaments like the International Championship won't work.

Thanks to read, I want to remember you all that the Australian Open is being played, and you can follow all the results in our Facebook Page by clicking here.