Matchroom Sport

History

Matchroom formed in 1982 concentrating on snooker management with the likes of Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, and Jimmy White under contract. It sponsored two non-ranking tournaments, the Matchroom Professional Championship (1986–1988, restricted to its contracted players) and Matchroom League (1987–1994). A novelty song called "Snooker Loopy" by "Chas & Dave and The Matchroom Mob" reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in 1986, with five Matchroom players featured on backup vocals and in the video.

Hearn's first foray into boxing promotion was the Frank Bruno vs. Joe Bugner heavyweight clash in 1987 in front of 35,000 people at White Hart Lane.

The range of sports increased in 1994 with the Mosconi Cup, an event which sees teams from Europe and the United States compete in a 9-ball pool tournament. It has become a major event on the professional pool calendar.

Over the years, Matchroom's portfolio under Hearn grew, taking a majority stake in the Professional Darts Corporation in 2001, helping oversee a growth in the sport. Matchroom Sport also promote the World Cup of Pool, a national team event, and the World Pool Masters, an annual nine-ball event.

In 2002, the company formed PGA EuroPro Tour, the UK's leading developmental golf tour, in association with the PGA. Later, in the 2000s, came ten pin bowling's Weber Cup. In 2009, Barry Hearn became the majority shareholder in World Snooker Tour Ltd. Since then the sport has grown, with prize money increased and new events introduced worldwide.

More recently, Matchroom has launched the World Championship of Ping Pong, Superstars of Gymnastics, British Basketball All-Stars, and British Fast5 Netball All-Stars.

In May 2018, Matchroom Boxing agreed five-year deal with DAZN reportedly worth £740 million to promote 16 fights in the US on the channel. In June 2021, both firms extended its agreement.

In April 2021, Barry Hearn stepped down as chairman with his son Eddie taking over the role. Barry will continue as president in an advisory role, while Eddie takes over as head of the PGA EuroPro tour, alongside overseeing Matchroom's wider operations and continuing to head the boxing division.

Boxing

As of 2023, boxing accounted for $235M of Matchroom's annual sales revenue. A rising list of signed boxing stars and steady events aided its gaining popularity and viewership growth, with Hearn citing the streaming model with DAZN as a major success factor for the brand.

In 2024, Hearn expressed an interest in exploring a 9pm main event start time for Matchroom fights.

In February 2025, Hearn announced a partnership between Matchroom and event management vendor Victory Live to provide enhanced ticketing distribution and fan experiences.

Current stable

References

References

1. Gibson, John. (29 July 2008). "Hit man Hearn has shown Midas touch across the whole spectrum of sport; From boxing to darts and snooker to soccer, rags to riches story of ex-accountant who has become a big player in his own right". Evening Chronicle.
2. Ranson, Jacob. (31 December 2020). "Barry Hearn awarded OBE in New Year honours list".
3. (20 November 1994). "Faith, hope and charity". [[Sunday Life (newspaper).
4. (7 May 2021). "Pool star Kelly Fisher wants women to compete at the Mosconi Cup again".
5. (7 December 2017). "Mosconi Cup returns to Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports".
6. "World Pool Masters Archives - Matchroom Pool". Matchroom Pool.
7. (24 June 2002). "Brady's confidence high on the Europro Tour". Irish Independent.
8. "About".
9. (27 April 2021). "World Snooker: Barry Hearn's replacement Steve Dawson ponders filling big shoes and dealing with Judd Trump". BBC Sport.
10. Jim White, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/9781238/Darts-king-Barry-Hearns-turns-his-global-sights-to-table-tennis.html "Darts king Barry Hearn turns his global sights to table tennis"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 4 January 2013.
11. "Home ⋆ All Stars Basketball".
12. Lewis, Ron. (2024-04-17). "Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom agrees £740m US deal".
13. Dixon, Ed. (2021-06-28). "Inside the deal: DAZN and Matchroom Boxing".
14. (20 April 2021). "Barry Hearn replaced by son Eddie as chairman of Matchroom". BBC Sport.
15. Birnbaum, Justin. "How Eddie Hearn Built Matchroom Sport Into A Boxing Heavyweight".
16. (2023-11-17). "Matchroom fighting for £1bn valuation as investors circle".
17. "Matchroom set to try 9pm start time for main events in 2025".
18. Lloyd, Owen. (2025-02-14). "Victory Live named ticketing partner of Matchroom Boxing".
19. "Boxers Archive - Matchroom Boxing".