Entertainment matters

I know a lot of the seasoned pros haven't been enjoying this year's relaunched World Open.

But from a spectators point of view, it's been class.

Both Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams admitted they've not enjoyed being out there. But for me, that's the attraction.

I find it intriguing to watch the top players out of their comfort zone, and seeing how they react to best-of-five-frame battles.

What makes this competition such an attraction, as well as the random draw, is that every player is in with a chance.

I don't think if Dave Harold played Shaun Murphy in the first round at the Crucible ten times, he'd even win one. That's no disrespect to the Stoke potter, but the top player's in the game are so efficient over the longer distances, that it makes life for the lower ranked players too tough.

Just like the FA Cup in football, the snooker World Open could become the competition where we begin to see fairytale stories.

I don't think every tournament should be like this of course.

The major appeal of snooker to me is the slow burning tension the game creates, and that the best players are those who are mentally toughest.

It's a sport that tests determination and mind power. That should never change.

But, I also think this kind of quickfire snooker is fantastic as an annual ranking event. It mixes it up, and I've been down the pub this weekend and talked about snooker to all kinds of people.

It's captured a new breed of fan's imagination. And, at the perfect time too. Just as the John Higgins saga has dragged the sport through the rough, suddenly people are talking about the sport for the right reasons.

What has probably made this tournament even better is that players look sharper than in the Grand Prix in years gone by.

This is all down to Barry Hearn and the new tournaments he's introduced. The standard of play has been high, which is what we all want to see.

It also means players right down the rankings are in full swing, and therefore have the a higher chance of qualifying for a ranking tournament.

This means more pro players reach the televised stages of competitions. There will be more variety to the players who appear on TV, and in turn, the depth of the sport will become even deeper.

So, it's a big thumbs up from me.

I'm going to enjoy this week big time.