On 4th August 2003, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (‘WPBSA’), the governing body of World Snooker, terminated its contract with its commercial management company, World Snooker Enterprises (‘WSE’), based on an allegation that WSE had failed to perform its obligations under that agreement. WSE immediately challenged that termination in the High Court, on the basis that the allegation it had failed to perform was completely groundless, and sought damages for repudiatory breach of the contract by the WPBSA.

In a judgement granted yesterday at the Royal Court of Justice (December 11th 2003), Mr Justice Buckley found in favour of WSE on every point raised, rejected WPBSA’s allegations that WSE had failed to perform, and summarily dismissed WPBSA’s defence on the basis that it had no realistic prospect of success at trial.

The court accordingly entered judgment for WSE on its claim for repudiatory breach of contract by the WPBSA, ordered the WPBSA to pay WSE liquidated damages in excess of £430,000 and also ordered the WPBSA to pay WSE’s legal costs. Taking into account the WPBSA’s own legal fees in the case, the overall cost to the sport of the WPBSA’s wrongful termination of WSE’s contract is likely to be well in excess of £500,000.

Mr Justice Buckley also expressly denied the WPBSA permission to appeal against his judgement.

A WSE spokesperson said: ‘We were reluctant to take the case to law, but would not tolerate the financial and professional damage that had been caused by the WPBSA’s wrongful termination of our agreement. The last thing we wanted to do was create yet more upset in the world of snooker, especially after working so hard to resolve the sport’s problems regarding management and future direction. We’ve known all along that we had a watertight case but we still made several specific attempts to settle the case out of court, each of which was rejected by the WPBSA board’.

‘The judge was absolutely clear that the WPBSA’s actions were completely unjustified. Just as clear is the waste of the members’ funds at a time when the finances of the sport are under pressure following the withdrawal of tobacco sponsorship. This resounding victory for WSE in one of the highest courts in the land shows that it is not acceptable for a governing body to simply disregard contracts on a whim.’

‘The time has come for the players to take the necessary steps to ensure that all efforts are directed towards generating new revenues for the sport, and not simply spending what money they have on litigation’.

For ore details contact:

Andy James 07712 529892