Neil Robertson has launched a scathing attack on the Crucible Theatre, calling for the World Snooker Championship to move to a larger venue in Sheffield. The Australian star described the iconic theatre as 'very cramped' and criticised the atmosphere during the two-table setup.
Speaking to Eurosport, Robertson compared the Crucible unfavourably to the Masters, saying: 'If you look at the Masters this year, that was the best atmosphere I've ever played in... I believe the atmosphere there is everything the World Championship isn't.' He warned against being 'too stubborn to move on' for tradition's sake.
Despite his criticism, Robertson believes Sheffield should remain the home of snooker. 'I think you could get a venue, still in Sheffield of course, that is the 'Home of Snooker', but somewhere with 4-5k capacity would be amazing,' he added.
The 40-year-old enters this year's tournament in fine form, having won the Tour Championship, English Open, Masters, and Players Championship this season. Ronnie O'Sullivan has tipped him as favourite, praising his consistency.
Robertson currently leads Crucible debutant Ashley Hugill 6-3 in their first-round match after recovering from an early 3-1 deficit. The world number three is seeking his second world title, 12 years after his first.
