Barry Hearn explains factors surrounding future home of the World Snooker Championship

Hearn gave the clearest indication yet that the current Crucible set-up isn’t viable for the future of snooker’s blue riband event

Barry Hearn increased uncertainty surrounding the future home of the World Snooker Championship during a live interview with BBC television on Wednesday afternoon.

The revered sports promoter returned to his snooker roots back in 2010 to help save and breath life into the professional game - which at the time was languishing with only a handful of events - although he stepped down from his daily duties as the chairman of the Matchroom Sport Group in 2021. However, he remains as president, and it is clear that Hearn still has a major influence on the running of top-flight snooker.

The 980-seat Crucible Theatre has been the home of snooker’s blue riband event every year since 1977, although the contract with the Sheffield-based venue is due to run out in just three years time, and there has been much speculation about the future of the Championship with China and Saudi Arabia mentioned as potential hosts.

A plethora of current top players and snooker legends have been asked their opinions on the subject, with differing feelings and views in response. Earlier this week, four-time world champion John Higgins said it was ‘inevitable’ that the event would move.

Sitting down with presenter Hazel Irvine and former world champions Steve Davis and Ken Doherty, 75-year-old Hearn talked about the prospects of the world championship either staying at, or leaving its Crucible home.

“I am absolutely doing everything to stay in Sheffield, but it takes two to tango. I’ll stay here while we’re wanted, and I think we’re wanted; I know we’re wanted by the BBC, I think we’re wanted by Sheffield, but they’ve got to be realistic.

“We’ve said for the last few years we need a new venue that seats 2,500-3000 people because I’m fed up with getting letters from people all over the world asking ‘how I get a ticket’?

“I’m looking for Sheffield to come to the party, and if they do, we’re staying. If they don’t they’re really saying that we don’t want you, so it’s not really my call.

“Trust me, money has the edge every time. We live in the real world. If there are deals out there that’s going to change people’s lives and increase profitability, there’s not really a choice to make.

“Let’s be perfectly honest, snooker is a professional sport played by professional sportsmen. Their first demand across any sport is prize money and they want to see it as big as possible and we as custodians of the sport have a fiduciary duty to those players.”