Jason Ferguson talks exclusively to Ronnie O`Sullivan Brasil!

Well, since I started with the Facebook Page back in 2012, and then started blogging in 2013, my principal aim was to show the best sport in the World to the Brazilian public, hoping to expand the interest in Snooker here, and show that Snooker out there is a proper sport, far from the amateurish we have here.
And since then, the most important thing I've done got to be this, an exclusive chat with Jason Ferguson - the chairman of WPBSA and the most important man in terms of globalization of our sport - who said me: "Keep blogging, we need people like you to spread the good word of our wonderful sport!". I feel very proud for this, of course it gets me more motivated to spend my precious and short time with Snooker, which is not a sacrifice to me, but a pleasure to be part of this community!

Jason Ferguson: "These activities is the foundation of our sport, they underpin the tour and major events in the areas we work."

Just after the Indian Open and during the Players Championship Grand Final in Thailand, I talked with Jason Ferguson about how Snooker can grow around the World, principally in South America, and what he's working on trying to develop Snooker in new territories.

I usually have an opinion for everything, and when I thing something is wrong, I'm not like the most of the people who just ask for change, I look at what can be done because you need any better idea to ask for improvement, so I shared my ideas with Jason, saw what he's already doing behind the cameras, and what he pretends to do.

Jason Ferguson: "It's time to start our push for South America."

Ronnie O`Sullivan Brasil: "Hello Jason, Brazil and Argentina have a lot of Snooker lovers, but we don't hold any professional event yet neither it's on TV here, what do you think that should be done to get Snooker bigger in South America other than just give our players tour cards?"

Jason Ferguson: "We have started discussions, it's all to do with finding TV production and a great local promoter. I have just made a short film for Globo TV [Biggest Brazilian Channel and 3rd in the World] to go out during Rio Games [in 2016 Olympics] and I was also talking them about an TV Event in Brazil."

Fergal O`Brien and Martin Gould at Shanghai's human school

Bingham, Hawkins, Oli Lines, Peter Lines and Tony Drago
helping in Wuxi's middle school Cue Zone programme

ROSB: "Is there any reason why the Brazil Masters [2011] didn't kept in the Snooker tour? Was it a Brazilian Federation's fault?"

JF: "2011 Masters was a one-off event, I'm putting together a proper sports development plan for the area, it must be sustainable.

This year we started the first ever All American Championship [Pan American Tournament, which gave Brazil's Ítaro Santos a place in this year's World Championship Qualifiers and a two-year professional card] and this will grow over time.

I firmly believe Brazil is a strong future market for us but it's gonna take time. It took time in China and now we have 8 events there and a strong business there, we are working on India and that will take time also."

"This School is in Shanghai and now has 28 tables permanently installed. Some of the Players give their time to help, like Kyren [Wilson] who's a diamond in my view."

Jason Ferguson

ROSB: "Snooker is getting a lot bigger here, I show international Snooker for Brazilian people in Ronnie O`Sullivan Brasil's Facebook and they are starting to get a lot interested, I shouldn't be surprised that in case of a Brazilian player qualifying for the World Championship this year, Globo will show the World Championship here, don't you think so? It's much more open system now with 3 matches for everyone."

JF: "I definitely agree, it's time to start our push for South America.

I love Snooker so much and believe one hundred percent in it. I will not stop until every country is involved, hopefully I live long enough to see it!

Keep blogging, we need people like you to spread the good word of our wonderful sport!"

ROSB: "Don't you think World Snooker should make partnerships with National Federations and get closer to a proper level in the local tournaments?"

JF: "Yes, I'm using this strategy to develop many new territories. China, Thailand and India all work this way."

ROSB: "Is there any ambition of expanding "Cue Zone into schools" [project to develop Snooker in schools with participation of professional players like Steve Davis] in international level?"

JF: "We already do this! Cue Zone is vital to our expansion, working with local federations, sports and education we can put our foundations down.

This is how we have maintained Wuxi for the World Cup, we have around 30 schools in the area after 3 years work, one school has 3000 students!"

Well, of course I want to thank Jason Ferguson for his time, he was in a busy week in Thailand but found a time to catch up with me, great attitude from him giving attention for the fans on twitter.

It was great to know that he's already been putting in ideas that I have had, but people (including me before this chat) don't notice because it's behind the cameras, as himself call "The untold history behind the cameras". And it's nice to hear he got really excited with my ideas of getting Snooker bigger and bigger in South America and pretends to start the hard work soon. Hopefully Snooker gets into the Olympics as sooner as possible.

School in Wuxi with 3000 students receiving Cue Zone Into Schools

All pics used in this post were received from Jason Ferguson via e-mail.

Of course, it's just a little part of the warm up we have been doing for the Crucible which starts receiving the World Snooker Championship Saturday 18.

We have The Crucible Quiz, with Dennis Taylor's match against Steve Davis in the 1985 World Championship as the winner in the "Greatest Matches",  and the winner of the "Favourite Players" will be announced just before the Qualifier in Ponds Forge get started (see here how the quiz worked).

But it's not all, we will still do a few other specials for the World Snooker Championship, and of course the Big Preview once the Qualifier is over.

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