Opinion: Why Hong Kong Masters was very special showcase for Ronnie O'Sullivan and snooker's brightest stars

It would be nice to think that Ray Reardon, on his 90th birthday, switched on Eurosport on Saturday morning to see Marco Fu’s 147 break in the deciding frame of his victory over John Higgins in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Masters. Reardon could not turn professional until he was 35 because snooker was yet to attract the attention of television and there was no money in it. That all changed in 1969 when the BBC launched Pot Black to showcase its new colour service.

Reardon was its first winner and quickly became a household name. He won six world titles and helped launch snooker into the stratosphere. Ad Now, it has taken another step forward.

This weekend saw a record crowd of roughly 9,000 at the Hong Kong Coliseum for the final, where Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Fu 6-4. The event was a stunning success, staged at a huge, modern arena before adoring fans. O’Sullivan described it as the best tournament he has ever played in.

SnookerWhen is the Northern Ireland Open? How to watch, full draw, when is O’Sullivan playing?AN HOUR AGO It was exactly the sort of event snooker needs to appear relevant and credible to general sports fans who want to be part of something which feels special. This is perhaps easier to achieve in a relatively new market than in an established one. The recent British Open in Milton Keynes struggled to attract significant crowds.

The atmosphere for much of the week was muted. The venue has possibly been overused in recent times whereas the Hong Kong event was the first in Asia for three years. Britain is saturated with 14 tournaments this season, so audiences can be more choosy about which ones they attend.