With the ever changing face of snooker, the difference in opinion between players widens as World snooker take opportunities to try new tournament formats.
With the 2016/17 season now underway, there are some drastic changes to this years season.
Judd Trump has admitted he prefers the exhibition style atmosphere in certain circumstances, as it brings an element of youth to the game.
The Eleven 30 series is a series of matches played by Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan where the pair battle out out in the best of 11 frames. They play for their own cash and the atmosphere tends to be more electric as these snooker stars entertain the crowds that flock to see these matches.
Trump in an interview said; “Obviously, you don’t want people shouting out loudly when you are down on a shot, but snooker players are used to playing with background noise anyway as that is what happens when they play at their local club”.
Although some exhibition matches warrant a loud atmosphere, most players prefer playing under quieter conditions in more serious matches. Some players hit out at world snooker earlier this year as it was decided that the shoot-out tournament will become a ranking event this year. Can this tournament which was just a fun opportunity for players now work as a ranking event? Either way, there is a division between some players on what format is best for professional snooker.
With the ever changing format, snooker is going through and evolution stage. Some players are moving more towards the exhibition matches, more and more tournaments are moving towards the East (particularly China) and Europe is beginning to take a keen interest in the game. But rest assured, the game is gaining popularity, which is the overall goal for World snooker.