Power Snooker Announced
After winning fifteen world titles on the oche, Phil Taylor is ready for a new challenge, swapping his arrows for a cue?
No, just kidding. Power Snooker is a new, "cutting-edge, excting and stylish and sexy re-invention of the traditional game" launched in London by its creator, Rod Gunner.
On hand to present the concept was three times world champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan and snooker’s Mr. Big, Barry Hearn, as well as Maurice Kelly, chief executive of Rileys.
O’Sullivan fronted a video that outlined the game and changes to the rules of the traditional game, of which there are many.
The Rocket’s sales pitch, planned or not, included an admission that he found the world championship ‘quite a bore’
He said, ‘Seventeen days in Sheffield is quite draining. I don’t want to be told what I can and can’t do. I would rather play in the Premier League than the World Championship. You can just pitch up and play and move on. You don’t have to sit around a hotel room in Sheffield trying to fill your day.’
The Daily Mail’s Mike Dickson, likened this admission to Roger Federer bemoaning a fortnight at Wimbledon or Tiger Woods disrespecting the Open at St. Andrews.
Positive analogies have been made between Power Snooker and Cricket’s Twenty20 format, as have less positive ones with the failed Tenball, a TV show hosted by Phillip Schofield in the early 90s.
Sheffield City, host to the sports blue ribbon event since 1977, posted a link to the Daily Mail story on its Twitter account.
Although this one wasn’t the brainchild of Hearn, he is supporting it. He said, “When Rod came to me with Power Snooker I was very receptive, as we should be to anything new.”
Hearn responded to Ronnie’s comments saying, “It has created moments you couldn’t buy. It isn’t boring; it’s just different to Power Snooker.”
He continued: “Ronnie’s not out of leftfield. He’s from somewhere else entirely. That’s why I love him so much.”
The first Power Snooker event will take place on October 30th and will feature eight top players including O’Sullivan and world champion, Neil Robertson.
Power Snooker – How it works!
1) Instead of the traditional rack of reds, nine reds will be placed in a diamond formation next to the pink.
2) The middle red, marked with the Power Snooker logo, is the PowerBall. Once potted, this triggers a two-minute PowerPlay during which every ball potted counts double. If a shot is missed during a PowerPlay, the clock stops and the player's opponent inherits the remaining time.
3) Each game lasts half an hour. The clock starts when the reds are broken and stops as the final black of each frame is potted.
* A shot clock limits players to 20 seconds for each shot.
* If the 20-second shot clock is exceeded, there is a 20-point penalty and the player still has to take the shot.
* Points count, frames don't. The most points scored after 30-minutes wins the game.
* When a player breaks, two or more reds must hit a cushion; otherwise the player's turn ends.
* The area behind the baulk line is the PowerZone - if the cue ball is struck from within the PowerZone, any colour potted counts for double or, during a PowerPlay, quadruple.
* A century break in any frame is worth 50 bonus points. If this is repeated in the next frame, 100 bonus points. If this is repeated in the third frame, 200 bonus points.
* The 'ball in hand' principle applied following a foul shot. The cue ball can be positioned anywhere in the PowerZone.
