World Snooker Championship announcement with decision on Saudi move | Other | Sport

The World Snooker Championship is set to stay in Sheffield until the 2040s at least, putting an end to speculation surrounding a move to Saudi Arabia. The Sheffield venue has hosted the tournament since 1977 and is considered the spiritual home of snooker.

However, talk of moving the World Championship to Saudi Arabia has picked up in recent times, with suggestions it could be moved when the previous deal with the Crucible runs out in 2027. That will no longer be the case, given the Crucible has signed a new long-term contract, keeping the World Championship in the Steel City until 2045.

There will be a temporary move away from the Crucible in 2029 when planned redevelopment work will take place. During that time, an alternative venue will host the tournament, before it returns to the Crucible thereafter.

A statement announcing the deal read: “Snooker’s World Championship will remain at the Crucible in Sheffield following a landmark longterm agreement between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council. The new deal will see snooker stay in Sheffield until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050.

“Separately, plans are being developed to transform the Crucible Theatre, with the sport’s most famous venue set to benefit from a major refurbishment, including the potential to add up to 500 additional seats in an ‘in the round’ configuration, alongside other significant improvements such as enhanced spectator facilities.

“The Championship will continue to be staged at the Crucible in its current design through to 2028. During the planned redevelopment period, the event is expected to be hosted temporarily at an alternative venue before returning to a transformed Crucible.

“The agreement reflects a citywide commitment, ensuring Sheffield and its partners continue to benefit from snooker’s longterm future in the city.

“From cultural venues such as Sheffield Theatres to sporting facilities including the English Institute of Sport, and businesses across the city centre, the deal supports ongoing economic and reputational benefits as the sport continues to grow its global audience and profile

“Snooker’s flagship event first came to the Crucible in 1977 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the iconic venue next year. The current agreement runs until 2027, and principles for a new long-term arrangement have now been agreed to secure one of the world’s greatest sporting events at its traditional home.

“This year’s Halo World Championship runs from 18 April to 4 May, as the world’s top 16 players and 16 qualifiers gather to compete for a trophy first contested in 1927, alongside a top prize of £500,000. The event has a global cumulative audience of 771 million.”

Meanwhile, Barry Hearn added: “For over 50 years I have been promoting sport all over the world but no venue on this planet means more to me than the Crucible. I am so happy that after a long period of meetings and discussions we have finally agreed a deal to stage the World Championship at its historic home – the Crucible. My thanks must go to Sheffield City Council for all of their hard work in ensuring this great tournament remains at its spiritual home.”

The news is unlikely to be welcomed by Ronnie O’Sullivan, given the seven-time world champion has been an outspoken critic of the Crucible. Labelling it a ‘circus’, he told The Sun in 2024: “I think definitely it’s a wise decision to take it away from Sheffield. Still have a tournament there. Why not? But just not the world championship over 17 days. It’s a massive circus and you need a massive space to accommodate it.

“I think Saudi Arabia would be great. They’ve got the resources and would do it great. If you’re going to take it to China, you’d have to take it to Shanghai. Or another major city like Shenzhen or Guangzhou. It’d be done properly. Courtesy cars will be laid on.

“Food will be there. Hotels will be great. Everything would be paid for. Prize money would be astronomical. I know at the Crucible you get nice tea there, you might get lasagne if the guys are cooking. But that’s about it.”