Meet the sports hero who ‘saved snooker’ and boosted Chris Eubank’s career and more

Fans can get up close and personal with the UK’s biggest sports promoter at a three-course lunch and book signing in Birmingham.

Barry Hearn OBE, the founder and president of promotions company Matchroom Sport, will be at Edgbaston Stadium on Tuesday, May 17 to launch his book ‘Barry Hearn: My Life’.

For what is Barry Hearn best known?

Hearn has been hugely influential in promoting the careers of boxing greats including Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and Steve Collins.

Hearn, who is also widely considered to have ‘saved snooker’, helped turn six-time world champion Steve Davis into a legend on the green baize as he popularised the sport in his role as chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

Hearn, now 73, formed Matchroom with snooker players Davis and Tony Meo in the 1980s and the organisation has gone on to promote other world champions including six-time king Ronnie O’Sullivan, Terry Griffiths, Cliff Thorburn and Dennis Taylor.

The Essex-born businessman, a previous chairman of Leyton Orient FC, is also credited with turning darts into a global sport having done a superb job as chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation, of which he is now president.

Never afraid to share his views, but happy to receive criticism too, Hearn is no stranger to controversy and has had numerous verbal spats with O’Sullivan, who is widely considered to be snooker’s greatest ever player.

He has also been involved in plenty of interesting disputes with rival boxing promoter Frank Warren, so anyone going along to the event is sure to hear plenty of interesting stories.

Hearn happily accepts that, whilst he has a huge number of supporters, he is not everyone’s cup of tea.

However, few would dispute that he is rarely anything but a fascinating listen and his links to the likes of Davis, O’Sullivan, Eubank and 16-time world darts champion Phil Taylor proves is consistently a magnet for sporting success.

What’s in prospect at the lunch?

A spokesman for event organisers Notebook International said: “Barry has provided the most televised sports hours on TV to date and single-handedly increased the popularity of darts and angling viewing.

“Matchroom is now run by his son Eddie Hearn who has become the world’s biggest boxing promoter.

“Barry is known for riveting audiences with his outspoken opinions, so join the biggest character in the industry to hear how he did it.”

How much are they and how can I get tickets?

The cost is £100 per ticket including drinks reception, three-course lunch and signed copy of Hearn’s book. Arrival is 11.45am for a 12.30pm lunch.

There is a £50 discount on offer for a table of ten, with all ticket details available at https://notebook.international/product/3-course-lunch-and-with-barry-hearn-obe-and-a-signed-copy-of-barrys-book-my-life/.

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