The BBC has unequivocally backed the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association against the threat of a rival tour promoted by The Sportsmasters Network, an internet and sports management company. It has shifted the pendulum, perhaps decisively, in favour of the established governing body.
John Rawlinson, BBC's deputy head of sport, said the BBC's "commitment to a revamped and reinvigorated WPBSA remains absolute" and said TSN's announcement last Friday of dates for its tour was "a destabilising influence."
Five members of the top eight, the world champion Mark Williams, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Lee and Ken Doherty, plus Jimmy White among several others, have signed for the TSN tour. But yesterday Steve Davis, like John Higgins, Alan McManus, John Parrott and Peter Ebdon before him, threw his support behind WPBSA.
A significant factor in his thinking was that he "could not consider not playing in the `real' world championship" - to which BBC has the rights for the next six years.
The Embassy World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, is indelibly branded in the public's mind as the true championship.
WPBSA have insisted that entries for its tournaments next season will close on February 28th. By this tight deadline, all players will have to choose between the rival tours.
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