ASSOCIATION NEWS
Out .... Peter Middleton
On 24th August the WPBSA announced the resignation of it's part- time Chief Executive, Peter Middleton. A standard press-release by the Governing Body suggested he had left for business reasons, specifically to concentrate on one of his newer appointments as Chairman of Dome Europe. This company had planned to take over the running of the Millennium Dome at the end of the year, but has since pulled out of the deal.
Whether there was any deeper motivation behind the departure was not disclosed, but it is known that several of his proposed changes were being met by opposition from those with a more traditional view within the WPBSA and a widespread disapproval from the public. These proposals included moving the World Snooker Championship from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and taking the event on a tour of the United Kingdom. Another controversial suggestion was the relaxation of the dress-code for certain events. This particular innovation was widely rumoured to be connected with potential sponsorship from a prominent clothing manufacturer.
Middleton's objective to turn around the position with reducing sponsorship has also seen no improvement. At the time of his departure, there were even less sponsors than when he joined. Another prominent project to develop an Internet presence had failed to materialise, and in fact took a set backwards. The WPBSA website, which was originally launched during the era of Rex Williams' chairmanship, has since gone off-line and with the new season underway, still carries an "under construction" notice.
Many of the players, especially those amongst the lower rankings, expressed dissatisfaction at the way Snooker was being restructured and increasing conflicts with WPBSA Board members may well have played a role in his decision to depart at this time. One fundamental change which Middleton did carry through was the divorce of professional billiards and the amateur games from professional snooker. Only time will tell whether this will prove a beneficial legacy.
In .... Jim McKenzie
On 11th October it was announced that 49 year-old Jim McKenzie would join the WSA as Managing Director. He previously served in the capacity of Chief Executive of the WPBSA for a period of five months in 1997. Prior to this he had been Managing Director of E. J. Riley Ltd for six years. His earlier reign ended with his sacking by the Rex Williams regime, which marked the start of some bitter infighting, threatening at one stage to tear the association apart. His return has been widely welcomed amongst the general membership of the WSA where he has remained a very popular figure.
Russell fined
Mike Russell has been fined £500 by the WPBSA for his early and unauthorised departure from the England v India Test Match held in Bombay during September 1999 (see ABP No.15). With the English team in a winning position, Russell took an early flight to New Delhi for a meeting with a marketing company, arrangements for which we are told, had been known to the WPBSA. Unfortunately this meant missing the presentation and reception with the sponsors. This was reported by the Tournament Director, Mike Ferreira, and seen by the WPBSA disciplinary committee as contravening their rules of conduct. The fine was suspended for two years subject to Russell's future good conduct.
In replying to this charge Russell had countered with a complaint of his own against Ferreira. In a letter to the WPBSA he claimed that with the score standing at 5-1 to the English team, Ferreira approached himself and David Causier, who were about to start their pairs encounter against Sethi and Patel, asking that they contrived to lose the game in order that the overall match would still be “alive” on the final day when television cameras would have been in attendance. As yet, the WPBSA have not announced any action against Ferreira.
Sponsorship Deal for IBSF
The IBSF have secured a six year sponsorship agreement with The Sportsmasters Network (TSN) who operate an Internet website. TSN Chief Executive George Smith made the announcement on 26th July, saying that he was "delighted to be entering this partnership with the global administrators of the amateur and semi-professional game." Nobody at TSN was prepared to comment on how this sponsorship would affect any billiards competitions run by the IBSF. TSN have recently provided televised coverage of snooker which is viewed through an Internet connection, although no such arrangements are planned for the World Open Championship being held in Middlesbrough in November.
Red, White & Stripy
The WBA have had talks with Saluc in Belgium who are producing a White/Yellow set of billiard balls which has a thin black stripe on each of the cue balls. The idea being to show the effects of side for the benefit of TV viewers. This set will be used for all the professional tournaments this season, and if available in time, will also be used in the jointly promoted WBA/IBSF World Open in November.
World Professional Championship
Arrangements to stage the WBA World Professional Championship in Chennai (Madras) in November were well advanced when news came through that WPBSA Chairman, Mark Wildman, had ordered that the event be cancelled due to threatened legal action by the IBSF. The IBSF evidently felt that the WBA were in breach of an understanding between the two bodies that the World Open Championship in Middlesbrough would be the only “World” Billiards Championship to be held in the year 2000.
A sponsorship package had been agreed for the WBA event with the Indian television company, ZeeTV, which would have allowed for 8 hours live television coverage. The format was again to have been multiple games of 50-up with a total of £50,000 in prize money. The competition was to have been restricted to 12 players (top 8 seeded through and 4 qualifiers) with qualifying groups arranged for Harrogate and Bombay. Each of these groups would have produced two players for the competition proper in India. Chairman of the WBA billiards committee, Peter Gilchrist, advised that the event would now be staged some time in January 2001.
World Matchplay Championship
The World Matchplay Championship will be the only professional tournament to be played on the traditional time-limit format this season. It will be held at the same venue as last year, the Centurion Hotel, Midsomer Norton, from 27th February - 2nd March 2001.
Pro-Ams
The WBA are considering setting up a series of five Pro-Am events covering the whole of England, which they will organise and contribute £1,000 per event in prize money. The format will 50-up matches, either best of five, or best of seven. Details are expected to be announced at the end of the year although it has been made clear that should the WBA go ahead with this idea, dates and venues will be selected so as not to clash with the existing Amateur calendar.
UK Professional Championship
Preliminary rounds for the UK Championship will be held on 7th-8th November at the North Ormesby Institute immediately prior to the World Open Championship. This will produce the two finalists who will then travel to Bournemouth on Wednesday 29th November where they will play during the course of the televised snooker tournament which starts there the previous week. All heats in the qualifying tournament will be 50-up best of 7 games, with the final being extended to best of nine. The “Provisional Draw” for this event shows a total entry of 18, which is significantly down on the 27 who entered last year when the event was held at Harrogate.