The World Snooker Championship has been held at the Crucible since 1977, but its future beyond next year remains unclear.
The Sheffield theatre has hosted snooker’s greatest tournament for nearly 50 years, from John Spencer’s triumph in ’77 to Zhao Xintong becoming the first Chinese world champion in 2025.
The Crucible is seen as the home of snooker, but its size has become an issue, with a humble capacity of just under 1,000.
While the tight, intense atmosphere in the venue adds to the unique appeal of the Crucible, there is no doubt that more tickets could be sold in a bigger building.
A tug-of-war between tradition and growth is ongoing, with many in snooker wanting to stay at the iconic venue and others keen to move and expand in a bid to boost revenue, prize money and give the World Championship a more modern look.
The contract for the World Championship to be held at the Crucible runs out in 2027 and, as yet, we don’t know if it will stay where it is beyond that point or move elsewhere.
Sheffield City Council has offered the latest on the situation, but other than talks continuing, there is not much news on what will happen in 2028 and beyond.
A statement to The Star read: ‘Sheffield City Council, World Snooker Tour and Sheffield Theatres can confirm that conversations about the World Snooker Championship beyond 2027 are still ongoing.
‘Due to the sensitive and commercial nature of these ongoing discussions no further information can be provided at this time.
‘When we can share more information with the millions of snooker fans around the world, and with the people of Sheffield, we will provide an update.’
The statement is remarkably similar to the one issued ahead of the 2025 World Championship in April, which read: ‘Sheffield City Council, World Snooker Tour and Sheffield Theatres are longstanding partners. Over the last 12 months we have had constructive conversations, with national Government, and key partners, about the World Snooker Championship beyond 2027.
‘Due to the sensitive and commercial nature of these ongoing discussions, no announcement on the future of the Championship will be made by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Theatres or World Snooker Tour during this year’s event.
‘When we can share more information with the millions of snooker fans around the world, and with the people of Sheffield, we will provide an update.’
It is slow progress, especially as Matchroom president Barry Hearn said in April last year that he wanted a decision made by the end of 2025.
‘I think I want to know by the end of this current year, because plans have got to be put in place based on what we decide,’ Hearn told Metro in April 2025.
While there has been talk of uprooting to Saudi Arabia or China, Hearn has made it clear that the first choice is to stay in Sheffield.
‘Everybody, to a man, wants to stay in Sheffield,’ he said. ‘That’s a good starting point for Sheffield, but you’ve got to come to the table as well.
‘You can’t get complacent and take the relationship as done. That doesn’t work and they must understand that.’
Speaking in May after meetings with Sheffield council, Hearn suggested it was likely that investment from central government would be required for the South Yorkshire city to keep hold of the event.
‘I think both of us agree that this is something where Sheffield can only go so far, but with government assistance it can go further and it can be maintained,’ he said in May. ‘So the onus is still on Sheffield to come up with something in line with government, in line with our thinking of where the game stands in terms of prestige and respect. This is a major event in England, a major event.
‘Fingers crossed the government understand the significance of this event remaining in the UK and remaining in Sheffield. And we, I, the whole of World Snooker is a hundred percent committed to keep it in Sheffield.
‘You’ve got to get in as much income as you can, pretty basic, because then you can pay as much prize money as you can. Whether that income comes from sponsorships, whether it comes from gate income or whether it comes from site fees is irrelevant to me as long as it comes in. So I need a plan.’
Any suggestion of the World Championship moving abroad was made far less likely when last year the BBC extended its broadcast deal for the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters until 2032.
Negotiations continue, with this year’s World Championship getting underway at the Crucible on April 18.
