Stephen Hendry analyses the major threats snooker face as he discusses ‘worst decision ever seen that KILLED the game'
In 1991 the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) made a drastic change by deciding to throw the pro ranks open to anyone willing to pay the entry fees for tournaments.
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Stephen Hendry has addressed a couple of big issues in the snoker circuit
Credit: Getty
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He spoke to WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson about his concerns
Credit: Getty
Before that the professional circuit had grown gradually over the years from a handful of players to 128 pros in total.
But suddenly there were over 700 professional players as hundreds ditched the amateur tournaments for a chance to feature in the most prestigious events.
It allowed the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and the rest of the famous class of '92 - John Higgins and Mark Williams - to make a name for themselves against the world's very best.
But discussing the major impact it had on the amateur game, seven-time world champion Hendry spoke to WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson about its impact on tournaments across the UK.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips, he asked: "The amateur game isn't the same anymore, is it?
"Even in amateur tournaments in Scotland, there used to be 32 really good players who you would come against once a month or whatever.
"When the pro game opened up it kind of killed (the amateur game) didn't it?"
Ferguson clearly feels just as strongly about it as Hendry does as he quickly replied: "It's the single worst decision I've seen in the sport."
He continued: "When the pro tour opened up it was great to allow the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Peter Ebdon and those players to come through.
"There was a bottle neck where there was only eight per year (becoming pro) but hundreds were playing (amateur tournaments).
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"That bottle neck really helped build the amateur game to be really strong.
"What it did overnight, within weeks, the amateur game was over entirely. There wasn't one single pro-am, even the English Amateurs, these great tournaments in history."
Hendry then responded: "You used to go down to King's Cross and the standard would be incredible, then all of a sudden the game was just (gone)."
Hendry went on to point out the fact that even the number of snooker clubs in the UK has reduced significantly since he was leading the rankings in the pro tour.
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The landscape of Scottish snooker in particular has shifted in recent years with fewer opportunities for young players to follow in the footsteps of greats such as Hendry or John Higgins.
Addressing the shortage of clubs, Hendry asked: "How do you get young players into snooker these days? It's hard to even find a snooker club now."
Ferguson replied: "I think the biggest challenge we face as a sport is the facilities.
"The average snooker club these days is under threat of closure.
"That's not because they're not busy.
Stephen Hendry career achievements
Seven-time World Snooker Champion
Youngest-ever winner of World Championship
Six-time Masters Champion
Five-time UK Championship winner
18 Triple Crown tournament wins
36 ranking titles
Nine seasons as World No1
Awarded MBE in 1994
Two-time BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year
"Every landlord wants to turn clubs into flats and make money out of building them.
"We've been lobbying the government trying to protect some of the clubs as buildings of community interest.
"We're winning some planning permissions and losing some as well, but there are more clubs in the UK now than there was two years ago.
"It's been consistent for the last two years which is a really encouraging statistic for us."
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