MARK Allen defeated Adrian Gunnell 6-3 to set up a second-round tie with Ali Carter, but he caused controversy in his post-match interview by calling for World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn to resign.

The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland based his displeasure on Hearn’s decision to reduce the early rounds of the Williamhill.com UK Championship from best of 17 to best of 11 frames. He said: “In the long run he’ll probably do good for snooker, but not for my generation. It’s time to let someone else have a go.

“When Barry came in, one of the first things he said was that the World Championship, UK and Masters wouldn’t be touched. Only 18 months later, the UK format has changed.

“I don’t think he’s pleasing too many players, but anyone who voted for him has only got themselves to blame. I wasn’t one of them.

“I’ve got no doubt he’ll tweak the World Championship. The whole tradition of the game is going to pot.

“It’s not all about bringing people in to watch and have a good time, shouting and having a drink.

“He [Hearn] needs to get away from the darts factor. It’s getting close to that.”

World Snooker says it is planning to review Allen’s comments, and added that Hearn, who is currently out of the country, could comment on Tuesday.

Last week, Hearn defended the shortened format, saying it was at the behest of the BBC, who wanted all matches to be televised (which has not happened in previous years) with a result in each session.

SupremeSnooker.com editor Marcus Stead says: Mark Allen’s comments show a deep lack of understanding as to why the Williamhill.com UK Championship format has been shortened.

The shortened format is due, primarily, to a request from the BBC for every match to be televised, and for a result from each session. Therefore, the first to six frames was the absolute maximum they could schedule to accommodate this.

Furthermore, as Hearn said during an interview last week, there is a general trend in sports for faster action and quicker results. The fact that ticket sales have improved enormously this year suggests the public agrees with him (although simplifying the process for ordering tickets, along with better publicity undoubtedly helped). Whatever players may say, it’s what the consumers and broadcasters want that matters first and foremost.

As Hearn said, there have never been more opportunities for players to play the game and earn prize money. For the first time in years, they are full-time professionals and need to appreciate that with that comes added responsibility. Like the rest of us, they have to get up each day and go to work. The era of months going by without a major tournament is thankfully over.

The last two years have been far from perfect, but the game is in considerably better shape overall.

My main criticism of Hearn is his support for Power Snooker. The game bares little resemblance to real snooker, is too gimmicky, and a crowd of boorish drunks does little to enhance the game’s image. Indeed, Allen touched on this in his comments, but he turned it into a sweeping and wholly inaccurate generalisation about the state of snooker. I much prefer the Sky Shoot-Out as a fun variant of the traditional game.

However, in virtually all other respects, Hearn’s changes have been positive. The PTC events have seen small tournaments played all over Europe, and in most cases have been hugely successful. Several have the potential to develop into fully-fledged tournaments.

The prize money at the weekend PTC events may be small (£10,000 for the winner), but the successful players will qualify for the PTC Grand Finals, where the eventual winner receives £60,000.

Furthermore, new tournaments have emerged in Thailand, Australia and Brazil, along with continued development in China. It may not be perfect, but snooker has never had it so good. Hearn is bringing the game into the 21st century after years of decline, corruption, cronyism and incompetence at World Snooker and the WPBSA.

The business of the schedule has been good news for most leading players. The regular opportunities to play have resulted in increased match sharpness, which in turn has seen higher standards in the major tournaments.

As for those players who do not succeed complaining about the travel costs, well, the game does not owe them a living. Snooker players are first and foremost entertainers. If they are not qualifying for the televised stages of events, they are not providing the public with entertainment, and, therefore, do not deserve high financial reward.

Allen may not like the fact he now has to work most weeks, but if things had stayed as they were a few short years ago, the game would have continued to decline and eventually reached a point where there would be little or no TV coverage or media interest. He would have to get a job in the real world, something he would not like.

He should also be aware that his comments have a commercial impact with sponsors, and such remarks hardly help his desire for increased prize money.

If Hearn is to fully succeed in his plans to transform snooker’s fortunes within five years, many players, including Allen, will have to raise their games. With the new opportunities to play regularly and make money comes a responsibility to tread carefully when it comes to criticising the hands that feed you.

Let Marcus Stead know your thoughts. Email him at: marcusstead@hotmail.co.uk