Snooker: Hearn agrees with O'Sullivan claims

SPORTS promoter Barry Hearn insists snooker is not "down and out" but admits that enigmatic world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is "carrying the sport on his own shoulders".

O'Sullivan had claimed the sport is "on a downward spiral", aimed scathing criticism at its administrators, and insisted only someone with the business vision of X Factor supremo Simon Cowell or Hearn could rescue it. Hearn, who has revitalised darts and introduced the exciting, Twenty20 cricket-style Prizefighter tournament to boxing, insists the sport is not dead but admits there is a dearth of characters at the moment.

"Snooker still does decent business but it's not as dramatic as it used to be," he told BBC Radio Five. "Basically, we had a diet of fantastic characters in the sport and without criticising the other players, Ronnie O'Sullivan is sort of carrying the sport on his own shoulders. He's the biggest seller of snooker to most punters but he needs some competition, he needs some other characters out there that will highlight the advantages and the excitement of snooker. It still does decent business – it's not down and out. But maybe that is the level it has to be at now because the market has changed, the climate has changed, the entertainment factor has changed and snooker just ticks over."

As for O'Sullivan's comments about Cowell, Hearn – who currently runs the successful Premier League Snooker competition – said: "I think Simon has done a fantastic job. Whether snooker is something he would want to be involved with I doubt very much but it's a nice thought, he might bring something new to the game." Public relations guru Max Clifford believes O'Sullivan is "absolutely right" but insists the world champion is not entirely blameless.

"I think what they need to do is build stars," said Clifford. "There needs to be a PR campaign using the media to build awareness, build young stars, good-looking young guys with attractive girlfriends who should be seen at big events and movie premieres to move the whole thing on. Ronnie has never played the media game. What he's saying is absolutely right but you couldn't say Ronnie O'Sullivan has done a PR campaign in recent years to build up awareness outside of snooker.

"When do you see snooker stars at a film premiere? Ronnie O'Sullivan with Tom Cruise? It just never happens."

New UK champion Shaun Murphy made an early exit from the Masters at Wembley as he lost to Ding Junhui.

The world No 3 was back to losing ways as Ding secured a 6-4 victory to seal his place in the quarter-finals, where he will meet John Higgins or Marco Fu.