Trump calls for World Snooker Championship to leave UK after decision | Other | Sport
However, during the renovation period, the 2029 tournament is due to be staged at an alternative arena. And world No.1 Trump has backed the World Championship to move to the Tempodrom in Germany while the Crucible is being redeveloped.
“I think the Tempodrom in Germany deserves it more than anywhere else,” Trump told SportsBoom. “I think the German fans have been excellent for snooker. The German Masters is an amazing tournament, but I think the World Championship in that venue would be perfect if it’s just one or two tables.”
But if the World Championship did remain in the UK during the Crucible’s hiatus, Trump believes it should be as a one-off spectacle at the O2 Arena. “I think the UK has had it long enough and it’s going to go back, so I don’t see a reason why it should stay. If it was to stay somewhere in the UK, maybe the O2 Arena, somewhere like that,” he added.
With the World Snooker Tour (WST) and Sheffield City Council reaching an agreement to keep the tournament at the Crucible for at least the next 19 years, Trump feels that it’s “great news” for the sport.
“It’s great news,” Trump continued. “It’s great that it’s such a long-term deal. Nobody needs to worry, it’s probably safe now until the end of my career.
“It’s good for snooker to have something set. Recently, every few years we’ve been worrying whether they’re going to extend it [The Crucible], or if it’s going to go. But it puts all of that to bed now, and I think everyone is happy with the decision.”
Trump is next in action when he goes up against Shuan Murphy in the quarter-final of the Tour Championship on Wednesday. He progressed to that stage of the tournament after beating Mark Allen 10-8 on Monday.
