Latest news with #JasonFerguson
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘The tide is starting to turn' – Snooker chiefs contemplating major rule change after Shaun Murphy pleas ‘for 20 years'
SHOT CLOCKS in snooker have taken a major step to becoming a reality. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson has opened the door to a conversation about implementing them in sport for the first time. 3 3 The concept of a snooker shot clock has been championed by Shaun Murphy, who claims the the idea is growing in popularity. Murphy - a former world champion - notably pushed for the introduction of a shot clock during a tiff with snooker pro Mark Allen at the end of last year. While on commentary duties, Murphy noted Allen's slow pace of play and suggested it was a tactic to throw opponent Barry Hawkins off his game. After Allen's rebuttal on X, Murphy was questioned as to what the sport could do to improve the situation. He said: 'I'd bring in a shot clock. And I've been saying this for 20 years, so I'm super-consistent on this. '30 seconds. I think a shock clock that is unemotive, unemotional. "It can't be swayed, it's not open to opinion – takes all of the pressure off the referees." Speaking on the changing attitudes towards the suggestion in the snooker world, Murphy added: "Years ago, I got widely criticised for wanting a shot clock - now the tide is starting to turn. 3 "I think, in years to come, we will see it become a thing.' Now WPBSA chief Ferguson has opened the door to a conversation on the topic. Shaun Murphy reveals one of darkest moments of his career before bouncing back to win Masters Speaking on Stephen Hendry's show Cue Tips earlier this week he said: "I think we've always got to be open-minded about change. "One thing I'd like to see is perhaps a more open look at shot times." While Murphy might view the admission as a step in the right direction, the statement had an air of compromise to it, as Ferguson would go on to caveat his opinion. He said: "The major events I don't think you need to muck around with. "The World Championship should always be the hardest test. Stamina, skill, bottle, everything. "Now the tide is starting to turn, not in totality, but it is starting to turn and I think, in years to come, we'll see it become a thing.' List of all-time Snooker World Champions BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year. The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport. The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport. Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each. 1969 - John Spencer 1970 - Ray Reardon 1971 - John Spencer 1972 - Alex Higgins 1973 - Ray Reardon (2) 1974 - Ray Reardon (3) 1975 - Ray Reardon (4) 1976 - Ray Reardon (5) 1977 - John Spencer (2) 1978 - Ray Reardon (6) 1979 - Terry Griffiths 1980 - Cliff Thorburn 1981 - Steve Davis 1982 - Alex Higgins (2) 1983 - Steve Davis (2) 1984 - Steve Davis (3) 1985 - Dennis Taylor 1986 - Joe Johnson 1987 - Steve Davis (4) 1988 - Steve Davis (5) 1989 - Steve Davis (6) 1990 - Stephen Hendry 1991 - John Parrott 1992 - Stephen Hendry (2) 1993 - Stephen Hendry (3) 1994 - Stephen Hendry (4) 1995 - Stephen Hendry (5) 1996 - Stephen Hendry (6) 1997 - Ken Doherty 1998 - John Higgins 1999 - Stephen Hendry (7) 2000 - Mark Williams 2001 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 2002 - Peter Ebdon 2003 - Mark Williams (2) 2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 2005 - Shaun Murphy 2006 - Graeme Dott 2007 - John Higgins (2) 2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3) 2009 - John Higgins (3) 2010 - Neil Robertson 2011 - John Higgins (4) 2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) 2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 2014 - Mark Selby 2015 - Stuart Bingham 2016 - Mark Selby (2) 2017 - Mark Selby (3) 2018 - Mark Williams (3) 2019 - Judd Trump 2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6) 2021 - Mark Selby (4) 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) 2023 - Luca Brecel 2024 - Kyren Wilson 2025 - Zhao Xintong 7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis 4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby 3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams 2 - Alex Higgins
Independent Singapore
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Snooker likely to become an Olympic sport in 2032, thanks to Zhao Xintong's historic win
INTERNATIONAL: As Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, stated, snooker may be included in the Olympic Games within the next seven years. Jason Ferguson shared that Zhao Xintong's historic victory at the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre opened doors for the sport, particularly in terms of global appeal and potential for Olympic inclusion. He also emphasised that snooker's growth, especially in Asia, strengthens the possibility of it being added to future Games, hopefully at the 2032 Brisbane Games. With this, Ferguson said, 'Realistically, Australia is a target… We're talking to all the multi-sport bodies.' He added: 'There's a lot of politics involved, but the size of snooker and how important China is to the IOC [International Olympic Committee], someone has to look at this and say this is now snooker's time.' Snooker failed bids for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics The sport has never been included in the Olympic Games, and it failed both bids for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, snooker was featured in the first-ever Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960. Unfortunately, the sport was dropped from the Paralympics after the 1988 Seoul Games. Ferguson believes that if snooker is to be an Olympic sport, its governing bodies must truly show greater commitment and dedication to its inclusion on the global stage. 'We need to see snooker in this country treated like a major Olympic sport; that's the difference… We have Sport England recognition, but we do need to get the sport treated the same as others,' Ferguson continued. He further said: 'Maybe it's the introduction into events like the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, maybe even the Paralympics, that matters.' A historical win for China Zhao Xintong made history at the Crucible Theatre by becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship. The 28-year-old player impressively defeated Welsh veteran and three-time world champion Mark Williams with an 18-12 victory in the final round. Zhao displayed his skills and capabilities throughout the match against his seasoned opponent. With his grit, his game highlighted the dominance of the new, younger generation on an international scale. This win has been a significant moment not just for himself, but for the sport of snooker itself. Snooker in China has seen rapid growth over the past two decades, and it is expected to be better known after Zhao's win.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Zhao Xintong world title can enhance snooker's Olympic bid, says WBPSA chief
Zhao Xintong 's emphatic World Snooker Championship triumph has fuelled hope for the sport to be included in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, according to one of the men behind the bid. Zhao, 28, became the first Chinese world champion when he beat Mark Williams in the final on Monday, a breakthrough moment for a country in which snooker has boomed in popularity. It came after he thrashed snooker great Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-finals, dispatching the seven-time champion with a session to spare at the Crucible Theatre. With 'The Cyclone's' victory demonstrating China's growing power in the sport, chair of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Jason Ferguson insists that snooker's inclusion in the Olympic programme is now realistic. "Realistically, Australia is a target," Jason Ferguson told the BBC on Wednesday. "We're talking to all the multi-sport bodies. There's a lot of politics involved, but the size of snooker and how important China is to the IOC (International Olympic Committee), someone has to look at this and say 'this is now snooker's time'." Snooker failed in bids to be included in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics but the sport's increasing global reach, especially in Asia, could make it more attractive to the IOC. Ferguson has no doubt that the 28-year-old Zhao's triumph in Sheffield this week will further fuel its growth in China. "This is one of the biggest occasions snooker has seen," he said. "Snooker in China is treated like any national sport. To see a world champion returning to China a national hero is really going to send the sport to another level." Zhao, aware of the importance of his world title win on a national scale, already has his eyes on further silverware and will surely relish the opportunity to show off his skillset on the Olympic stage. "I did realise that my victory is important for Chinese snooker," Zhao told China's state news agency Xinhua. "I believe I can win more tournaments in the future to attract more people to be involved in the sport. I will refresh myself and look forward to a brand-new start of my career."
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Zhao Xintong's world title can help snooker's Olympic bid'
China's Zhao Xintong becoming world champion could help snooker's bid to enter the Olympic Games, says the sport's chair. The 28-year-old became the first Chinese player to win the World Championship in Sheffield on Monday. Jason Ferguson, chair of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), believes Zhao's success will create opportunities for the sport in Asia as well as worldwide - while aiding its chance of being included at Brisbane 2032. "Realistically, Australia is a target," Ferguson said. "We're talking to all the multi-sport bodies. There's a lot of politics involved, but the size of snooker and how important China is to the IOC [International Olympic Committee], someone has to look at this and say 'this is now snooker's time'." Snooker failed in its attempts to be included at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China's snooker ‘Cyclone' Zhao Xintong earns applause, forgiveness and national hero tag
Leading lights of snooker have lined up to hail the impact of Zhao Xintong's World Championship triumph , with the governing body's chief suggesting it would fuel a boom for the sport. Advertisement A first for China and indeed Asia, Zhao's success on Monday may have been applauded loudest in Shenzhen, where he was raised, and in Sheffield, the scene of the victory and his adoptive home. But the cueist nicknamed 'The Cyclone' blew away his opponents with such force that it sent ripples right across the snooker map. Excitement, admiration and a willingness to forgive were among the sentiments stirred, with beaten finalist Mark Williams saying it could 'open floodgates everywhere'. 'He has entered the history books of this sport and in China he will probably be one of the biggest stars there,' Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, told the BBC. Zhao Xintong at the table during his accomplished display in the world final. Photo: Xinhua 'Snooker is so big in China. He is young, talented and entertaining and speaks both English and Mandarin. This is going to take snooker to another level.'
