Snooker
In the early 1970s, looking for a property investment, Hearn bought a snooker hall in Romford, Greater London. The same year, the BBC began promoting snooker on BBC1 in colour television, resulting in queues of people wanting to play snooker. Hearn and joint-business partner Deryck John Healey then bought Lucania Billiard Halls, which formed the basis of his future career, promoting snooker via colour television.
Hearn began promoting sporting events in 1974, working with amateur snooker players Geoff Foulds, father of Neal Foulds, and Vic Harris. In 1976 he became manager of Steve Davis, who went on to win the world championship six times.
Hearn prospered from the snooker boom of the 1980s when he formed Matchroom with players Davis and Tony Meo. Later Matchroom snooker players include Terry Griffiths, Dennis Taylor, Willie Thorne, Neal Foulds, Jimmy White, Cliff Thorburn and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Hearn appeared alongside many Matchroom players in the video for "Snooker Loopy", a hit for "rockney" pop rock duo Chas & Dave.
Until July 2010, Hearn was chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. In June 2010, following a vote by the members in June 2010, Hearn took a controlling interest in the organisation's commercial arm, World Snooker Limited with a view to revitalising the game.
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