John Higgins believes it is 'inevitable' the World Snooker Championship will move from the Crucible

Snooker great John Higgins is the latest player to weigh in on the discussion whether the Crucible Theatre should or will be the future home of the World Snooker Championship.

The sport’s blue riband event has been held at the intimate and iconic Sheffield venue every year since 1977, but with the contract due to run out in 2027 - exactly 100 years on from when Joe Davis won the first world snooker crown - talk is rife amongst the snooker community as to where the tournament will be hosted beyond that.

With big money, and new, events back on the calendar in China following the covid pandemic, and the emergence of Saudi Arabia as a snooker-hosting nation, those in charge of professional snooker will likely have no shortage of offers to showcase snooker’s premier prize.

There is suspicion amongst some that the decision surrounding the world championship’s future location has already been made with the Riyadh Season portfolio recently being announced as an official partner of this year’s event and with its branding inside the Crucible playing arena.

Whilst the Crucible’s impact and heritage is undoubted, the venue is unable to accommodate more than 1,000 spectators for each session, and facilities for players and those working on the event could arguably be better. In an interview with Sporting Life last week, former champion Shaun Murphy described it as ‘our biggest event in our smallest venue.’

Many of snooker’s top stars have been asked on their opinions about a potential move, and just like the discussion itself not being black or white, there have been differing feelings and views. Following his loss to Judd Trump in the opening round there a few days ago, Hossein Vafaei slammed the venue, saying it ‘smells really bad’ and that the Championship should go somewhere else.

Winner of the world championship at the Crucible four times between 1998 to 2011, Higgins is one of the latest players to have his remarks on the debate noted. Speaking to BBC Sport about whether the competition will move, the 48-year-old snooker legend was quoted saying: "I think it's inevitable. The landscape of the snooker world will have changed in three years.

"I'm just lucky that I've won it here. It will be sad to leave, it's been a massive part of my life.

"I think if you asked other players who have never lifted the trophy here, that would be something they would probably regret for the rest of their lives.

"The bank balance might not say that (Higgins referring to future winners of the event), but if you look back on the history and the champions before them, they would love to have won it here because it's special. It's the best place to play snooker."

On the baize, world number 13 Higgins is set to appear at the Crucible for a 30th consecutive year when he faces dangerous qualifier Jamie Jones in the opening round, with their first session taking place on Wednesday night. Jones - a quarter-finalist on debut in 2012 - eliminated former champion Neil Robertson 10-9 in the final qualifying round.

Higgins - whose top 16 place is in serious threat - claimed his 31st and latest ranking event in scintillating fashion at the 2021 Players Championship over three years ago.