EXCLUSIVE
Barry Hearn is set for a historic appearance at the upcoming US Open at the age of 76.
The latest episode of the prestigious major will take place in Atlantic City on August 19-24, with Matchroom Sport chairman Hearn set to surprisingly compete.
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Hearn entered as a wildcard alongside talkSPORT pundit Andy Goldstein who has also received his place in the first round.
And the 76-year-old promotional veteran has revealed he has already put together an entertaining plan for his first round fixture.
"I needed this opportunity to be in the shoes of the people on the other side of the ropes," Hearn told talkSPORT.com.
"I'm very aware that I have a great chance of being totally humiliated. But I will give every ounce of knowledge and brain power.
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"I am now like a kid who is waiting to unwrap a Christmas present. I want to walk in to 'The Gambler.
"It is my theme song, I have also already designed my clothes. They are being prepared.
"I've prepared every part of my walk on, and I've even got my sponsors sorted."
It will be a record-breaking appearance for Hearn, who will be the oldest player gracing the table.
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The appearance will also be his debut on American shores, and he will be hoping to at least win one rack.
Hearn and Goldstein will discover their draw soon, and it will be against one of the leading 128-ranked players on the world circuit.
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President of Matchroom Sports Barry Hearn reacts to the feud between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter and says the sport hasn't built itself up to be brought down by it
He has had huge success bring sports such as darts and boxing into new mainstream audiences.
And he believes that pool can reach the same lofty heights as other sports under Matchroom's promotion.
"I look at the stats and figures and I see that pool is played by huge amounts of people around the world.
"But why not? Well because there isn't an end goal for a player to achieve his wishes and change his life.
"But it has to be financially linked to the stage that you can change your life via sport. Pool has never had the prize money.
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"But what we are giving it is tournaments all over the world, putting up five million this year and ten million next year of prize money.
"The structure is in place, players are in place and the commercialisation is in place. What can stop us?"
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