Hearn takes control of snooker 03/06/2010 |
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Barry Hearn has won control of World Snooker after a tight vote of the world's top 64 players.
Hearn will resign as World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chairman to take a 51 per cent controlling stake in the commercial business after edging the vote 35-29.
He said: "I'm delighted by the outcome. I do not underestimate the challenges that lie ahead, but for the moment snooker is united and the future looks rosy.
"I owe the game a lot and I will make sure that I will be giving 100 per cent every day to bring it to the level at which it should be operating."
Businessman and former Olympic shooter John Davison had put forward a rival bid which had the support of Stephen Hendry.
"We congratulate Barry on securing the votes of the playing members of the WPBSA and wish them and all the stakeholders all the best of luck in the future," Davison said in a statement.
Hearn has pledged that prize money will rise from £3.5m in 2009/10 to £4.5m in 2010/11, and has also promised to return control to the WPBSA if he fails with his venture.
Hearn, who has had business success across sports including darts, boxing and golf, had a high profile in snooker during the 1980s, when he was the manager of Steve Davis and other leading players.
He returned to the sport in December as chairman of the WPBSA and has since unveiled a raft of measures aimed at breathing new life into the game.
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