Jumping into pool at 76
EXCLUSIVE: Barry Hearn is set to become the oldest person to appear in a professional pool tournament in the UK, writes ROB MAUL.
The British sports promoter, 76, has been given a wildcard to play at the UK Open Pool Championship, which takes place at the Telford International Centre between May 6-11.
Hearn, who has vowed to practise daily in the build-up, will be involved in at least two games and his goal is to win one of them.
It follows his appearance at last summer’s US Open Pool Championship at Atlantic City where he won one rack in a 9-1 opening-round loss to Polish star Konrad Juszczyszyn – and this cost son Eddie a lot of money in a family bet.
His progress and performance should feature in the new Netflix documentary – ‘Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen’ – which has been following the Hearn family as they promote darts, snooker and boxing.
Given his company run the World Nineball Tour, it was not exactly hard to secure the spot but he told the haters: “I don’t really care – I’m entering.”
“It has caused chaos in my household but I have cleared out a room and my own table will arrive in the next few weeks. I will play every day.
“My struggle is the same for those 76-year-olds out there that dreamed of being at Wembley and scoring the winning goal – or hitting the winning runs at Lord’s.
“I’m 27 years older than Ronnie O’Sullivan and he’s contemplating retirement from snooker. I’m just starting this journey in the sport. I have no excuses for not getting better.”