Snooker chief Jason Ferguson says the “perfect system” is in place for the sport to have its own Luke Littler and for a player to become a household name in just months.
Littler became world darts champion at just the age of 17 earlier this month. He is the youngest ever world champion in his sport.
Just days later UK Championship finalist Barry Hawkins said in an interview with Eurosport Hungary that snooker needs its own version of superstar Littler to inspire the next generation.
Hawkins also raised concerns about the grassroots aspect of snooker and said he agreed with a claim that UK snooker was in “crisis”.
But Ferguson has said snooker has huge amounts of talent on its books and the future is bright.
Asked about a Luke Littler affect in snooker, the WPBSA chairman told the Anatomy of an Agency podcast the sport “had the most perfect system” to generate worldwide stars.
He said: “If you were a snooker player today and you thought you were good enough to win the World Championship and be the biggest star in the sport ever seen – you can do it in a matter of months.
“In a matter of months”
“It wasn’t always that way. We’ve re-written the whole thing.
“We’ve got challenge tours, qualifying systems. There are world junior events, world amateur events and we’ve got world women’s events. We are a true mixed-gender sport.
“We could take you (podcast presenter), you could win the World Women’s Championship. You can then be on the World Snooker Tour and then be in World Snooker Championship Qualifying by March/April. By end of April or first week in May, you could be the biggest star in our sport.
“It’s been done based on ‘opportunity for all’. I hate structures that holds talent back. We used to have it where you would have a few years to get to a certain level. Now you can do it in a few months – that’s how it should be.
“There’s only one rule – you just have to be good enough.”
Ferguson added there was plenty of talent around. He added: “We’ve got some great assets on our tour. We’ve got some strong talent coming through – men and women.”
Hawkins was asked by Eurosport Hungary earlier this month if he thought there was a crisis in UK snooker, “especially for the younger generation”.
He said: “It seems to me now in the UK there’s not many at all (players coming through). So maybe some investment is needed. There’s more snooker and pool clubs opening up again so maybe that’s a good thing.”
You can listen to the full interview with Jason Ferguson and other guests on the Anatomy of an Agency podcast here.
