Six-red snooker feature shorter frames, due to fewer red balls. Other formats are being considered as well. It was hoped that the format would revive the popularity of snooker as a spectator sport, in the same way Twenty20 has done to cricket. Jimmy White said that six-red snooker could be one way of helping boost the game's popularity. Ali Carter also said he would be interested in playing the format. The first international tournament in this format was contested in July 2008, with Ricky Walden defeating Stuart Bingham in the final. A six-red tournament was held during the 2009 World Snooker Championship
Sport in Ireland only allowing "A" time athletes and swimmers to attend the games. This prevented several sportspeople from competing. One of the biggest international events in Ireland is international soccer. The Republic's national team first qualified for a FIFA World Cup in 1990, reaching the quarter finals of Italia '90. In rugby union, as of 2018, Ireland's national team is ranked 2nd in the world. Ireland has produced major stars such as Keith Wood, Brian O'Driscoll and Jonathan Sexton. In golf, Ireland has produced several top golfers such as Pádraig Harrington. The traditional Gaelic games of Gaelic football and hurling are played