Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Kyren Wilson, and Neil Robertson have all voiced their support for the introduction of a Ryder Cup-style snooker tournament, which they believe would provide a significant boost to the sport. The concept was discussed at the Crucible following the conclusion of this year's World Snooker Championship, where Wu Yize emerged as champion after a tense final against Murphy.
Team Competition Would Bring Fresh Excitement
Snooker has traditionally been an individual sport, with no established team competition on the professional calendar. However, the idea of a team event pitting players from Great Britain and Ireland against Chinese stars and the rest of the world has generated considerable enthusiasm among top players.
John Higgins, recalling his experience winning the World Cup in 1997 with Scotland, said: "That would be exciting. I think that would be good to bring that into the tour, something that you wouldn't really see as light-hearted because you would still be one-to-one, but just something different from every event being the same." He added that a team event should feature three or four players to create a genuine team atmosphere.
Players Eager to Participate
Shaun Murphy, who reached the World Championship final this year, was quick to express his enthusiasm: "Yeah, count me in. I'd be in pretty much any format of snooker. I just love playing, if it involves putting balls in pockets, I'm taking part." He acknowledged the rise of Asian players in the sport but remained confident that a UK and Ireland team would be competitive.
Kyren Wilson described the proposed tournament as a "no brainer," stating: "Absolutely, it's something me and my brother have spoken about quite often. I'm not necessarily the biggest golf fan, but I will tune in to watch the Ryder Cup. I think that would bring in a new generation of fans, a different audience. I also think it's something for the fans to cheer on."
Neil Robertson Questions Why It Doesn't Exist
Australian star Neil Robertson was puzzled that such a competition is not already part of the snooker calendar. "100 per cent," he said when asked if he would be up for the tournament. "I just can't work out why it's not there. What it would be more like a Presidents Cup where you have the UK vs the rest of the world. Amazing." He highlighted the potential for global interest, with overseas players rallying together and fans worldwide taking sides.
Robertson also noted the historical challenges faced by overseas players in the UK, adding: "Something like that would be really good. It would be competitive, I would desperately try to win, as would the UK based players as well."
