Barry Hearn has opened up on his biggest failure as a promoter as he continues to play a pivotal role in British sport.
Hearn, 74, is the founder and President of Matchroom Sport, and also serves as the Chairman of the PDC, raising the profile of darts and introducing the now iconic Premier League series. He was also the Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association until 2010, and has been involved in pool, tenpin bowling, golf, table tennis, and fishing.
He's even a former Chairman of football, having worked at Leyton Orient. But speaking on the Framed: The Snooker Podcast, he said putting unjust faith in people had proved his biggest issue over the years.
"I trust people too much to be honest with you," he said. "And I know that doesn't sound like a failure because I'd rather trust people than not. But I do look back over my life and think 'oh he was a wrong un or she was a wrong un' or whatever.
"There's times when you do put your trust in the wrong people but that's ok. Because I'd rather be like that than be cynical and not trust anyone. But if someone lets you down its decompartmentalised, filed away under 'not to be forgotten', and you move on."
In November, Hearn was in the headlines for defending the notion of 'sportswashing' in Saudi Arabia. He revealed that prior to Covid, a huge £2.5 million deal was signed by the World Snooker Tour to hold an event in the Far East.
“It’s all nonsense really, of course the world should be a wonderful place everywhere," he said. "Unfortunately it’s not so we have to live with the inadequacies of the world, you just get on with it."
On the podcast, Hearn also said his tendency to speak his mind was now getting him into trouble with son Eddie. He described how Hearn Jnr had banned him from boxing meetings because he was "so honest" and upsetting people.
"I'd like to think I'm a really nice person," he said. "But I do set very high standards and although that sounds easy, I try to live them myself as well. So as you get older - and richer - that helps, you tend to tell the truth all the time."
