The World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until at least 2045, following a landmark agreement between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council. The deal includes an option to extend the venue's hosting rights for a further five years to 2050.
A planned £45m (€52m) redevelopment of the theatre will allow for an additional 500 seats, but requires the event to be temporarily relocated in 2029 and possibly 2030 while construction takes place. The news allays fears that the championship, which has been staged at the Crucible every year since 1977, could leave the venue or the UK when the current lease expires in 2027.
Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport, had described the venue as "no longer fit for purpose" two years ago, citing its 980-seat capacity as inadequate amid reported interest from China and Saudi Arabia. He said: "I thought we didn't have a home at one stage – I can't tell you how pleased I am. Snooker's dream was to stay at the Crucible. This is the lifeblood of our sport."
During the temporary relocation, the tournament is expected to remain in the UK, with Manchester and London's Alexandra Palace – current host of the Masters – mentioned as potential alternatives. Irish snooker fans may hope that a return to Manchester, which hosted the championship frequently before Sheffield took over, could open a slot in the calendar for a ranking event in the Republic of Ireland. No ranking event has been held there since the 2013 PTC Grand Final in Galway.
The Crucible has been the stage for memorable Irish victories, with Alex Higgins, Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty triumphing in 1982, 1985 and 1997 respectively. In a separate matter, the future of the Saudi Arabia Masters remains undecided, with the event scheduled for Jeddah in October but in doubt due to ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
