Down the Rail

If you're active on X ( fka Twitter)  and you interact with snooker fans in there, you're aware that the Champion of Champions is being played this week, but you've also read several comments on how the event looks "cheap", with its old prestige gone. I am, of course, loving the tournament and the snooker played in it, but I tend to agree with that and was wondering how that has happened to a tournament once described as "the fourth major" in snooker.  I believe that it can't be down to one reason alone, and in order to understand what changed I think we have to look back at what was working years ago when its prestige was at its highest. Format: the tournament's format hasn't changed, but there have been people saying that some events shouldn't qualify their winners to the Champion of Champions (for instance the Shoot-Out, World Seniors, and Women's World Championship). Although I understand the argument, I wouldn't change it. ...