‘I work for the BBC – I didn’t believe in the Crucible Curse but I was wrong’ | Other | Sport
Top snooker commentator Steven Hallworth has admitted he was a sceptic when it came to the infamous ‘Crucible Curse’ – but now says: “I’m a believer.” Since the World Championship moved to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1977, no first-time winner has ever successfully defended the title the following year.
Zhao Xintong was the latest player to fall victim to the Curse as he crashed out at the quarter-final stage of the 2026 World Championship, losing 13-10 to Shaun Murphy. And Hallworth, who tipped Zhao to win the tournament before it started, is now fully on board with the Curse.
“Listen, believe in it, because it’s a real thing,” Hallworth told Express Sport. “I was sceptical. I genuinely thought the biggest chance it had of being broken was Zhao Xintong.
“He was my tip for the event. Not purely because of who he is or what he’s done, but because of how well he’s played recently. He’s absolutely dominated the Players Series. It’s difficult enough to get in those events, let alone dominate and win all three.
“The Curse, 50 years down the line, it’s absolutely a thing. And I’m a believer.” Hallworth has become one of the game’s prominent voices in recent years. He is a major part of the Channel 5 team, with that channel covering live main tour snooker for the first time this season.
And he is also currently making his BBC debut as part of their commentary team at this World Championship. “It’s been amazing,” Hallworth said, reflecting on working at the event. “Just to be in that room, where everything in this sport has ever happened. All my childhood memories of snooker are pretty much from inside the Crucible.
“It’s quite surreal to be watching these guys doing it. And to be commentating on it is even more strange.” Hallworth also admitted he’s personally delighted with the new Crucible deal, which ensures the tournament will stay at the iconic venue until at least 2045.
A £45million deal was announced last month, with the arena set to be revamped following the 2028 tournament, with up to 500 seats added and the capacity taken up to around 1,500. “Obviously I’m working on the event as a broadcaster, but actually I’m still a player and I’ve never managed to qualify for this event yet,” Hallworth said.
“I’ve lost on ‘Judgement Day’ previously, so it was getting to the point where it was like, oh my God, I need to qualify before it leaves, because we weren’t sure on the future.
“The fact it’s here until 2045 surprised me massively. I thought it would stay, but that length is just brilliant and it’s perfect for the sport. And I think it’s been illustrated at this event, just seeing how well supported it is and what can happen inside the Crucible. It cannot move.”
