Is the World Snooker Championship leaving the Crucible? Barry Hearn hints the end is nigh for iconic venue

The future of the World Snooker Championship appears to be away from the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The most prestigious event in snooker has been played at this venue since 1977 and has created a lot of memorable moments over the years.

The current contract ends in 2027, and the negotiations aren’t going well, with Sheffield City Council and World Snooker Limited at loggerheads.

So, unless a compromise can be reached, it appears the World Snooker Championship will be moving from the Crucible once the current deal runs out.

Is the World Snooker Championship leaving the Crucible?

Well, the simple answer is probably because Hearn wants a bigger venue.

The Crucible is great for spectators because they are close to the tables, and it feels intimate and creates a great atmosphere.

However, it can only hold 980 people, which leads to tickets selling out instantly.

Speaking to the BBC, Hearn revealed his views on the future of the tournament.

He said: “I am doing absolutely everything I can to stay in Sheffield, and it takes two to tango.

“I’ll stay here while we’re wanted. I know we’re wanted by the BBC, I think we’re wanted by Sheffield.

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“But we need a new venue that seats 2,500-3,000 people because I’m fed up of getting letters from people asking how they can get a ticket. I’m looking to Sheffield to come to the party, and if they do, we’re staying. If they don’t, they’re saying, ‘We don’t want you’.

“The Crucible has a fantastic history, and it’s been a massive part of my life, but we’ve got to live in the real world. There’s a price for everything, whether we like it or not.

“I want to stay here. I can’t do any more than say that, but I need help, I need a reason to stay here. I can’t be more loyal to Sheffield than I have been but everybody needs to pull in the right direction.”

So, even if the World Snooker Championship remains in Sheffield, it’s likely going to have to be a new venue because the Crucible, in Hearn’s view, isn’t big enough.

His comments follow some complaints from Hossein Vafaei, who slated the venue after his defeat to Judd Trump in the round of 32.

He said: “You walk everywhere around the Crucible and it smells really bad. As a player, I’m honest, it’s just really bad. Everything’s so bad.

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“If you ask me do I want to come back here again, I’ll tell you no way.

“The practice room, do you see anything special?

“I feel like I’m practicing in a garage. That’s not good. I’m coming from a different country to see that? It’s not good. I am sorry I have to tell the truth.”

Meanwhile, Australian player Neil Robertson also believes it’s time to move on from the Crucible.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “We have to move with the times, I don’t think the championships should continue at the Crucible itself.

“I want a new Crucible built, which I think would be amazing, like the new era is beginning. We have to move on with the times and with sport, sport is always growing, and if you don’t look to always take a sport forward then you’re going backwards.

“Barry is absolutely right, none of the players want to leave Sheffield despite what some may say, but we need a new venue. The prize money would at least double instantly, Barry Hearn has said that.”

Where else could it go?

The ideal solution would be for the tournament to remain in Sheffield.

However, for that to happen, it seems a new venue has to be built.

This is possible, but the council would have to weigh up many things before deciding to press on with a new Crucible.

Another option is for the tournament to move permanently elsewhere, with Saudi Arabia and China contenders.

Certainly, the Saudis would provide more prize money for the players, but the tournament would lose some of its magic, while British-based fans would be frozen out.

One more option that Hearn discussed was taking the World Snooker Championship to a different venue each year.

This would mean the Crucible would stay as it is, but it wouldn’t host the event every year.