The World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050, after a new long-term deal was agreed between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council. The tournament has been held at the 980-seat venue since 1977.
As part of the agreement, the Crucible will undergo a renovation following the 2028 tournament, funded by £45m of government investment. This will add 500 seats, increasing capacity to 1,500. Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport, admitted the deal was influenced by sentiment, saying he had let his heart rule his head for the first time in his career.
Hearn cited the 1981 championship, when Steve Davis won at the Crucible, as a pivotal moment. 'Matchroom was a £100 company formed off the back of a Crucible win that is now the biggest sports promotion company in the world,' he said. 'There are certain things where you'd hate yourself if you did them. Nothing I've done will ever surpass the Crucible; I owe it more than it owes me.'
The deal comes despite Hearn's previous calls for a completely rebuilt Crucible with at least 3,000 seats, amid interest from Saudi Arabia and China. He acknowledged that without the government funding, the tournament might have moved. 'The Crucible wasn't fit for purpose but now we know we'll get a venue that will be,' he said.
Hearn conceded the decision was not unanimous, hinting that his son Eddie, who is not a snooker fan, was among those who disagreed. 'Eddie is not a snooker fan, he likes the business of sport... He doesn't have the same passion because he wasn't there,' Hearn said.
