Where Could the World Snooker Championship Be Held in 2029? Temporary Alternatives to the Crucible

The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield has hosted the World Championship since 1977 and recently signed an extension that will keep the prestigious tournament at the venue until at least 2045.

However, the plans include a £45 million revamp of the 55-year-old theatre, which could see its capacity increase from 964 to 1,500.

Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom, whose company holds a controlling stake in World Snooker, has backed the tournament to remain in the UK.

He said: “This is the biggest opportunity in snooker for 20 years.

“If I was a gambling man I would go odds-on it stays in the UK, but being the money man I am, if the right offer comes in I will have to consider it”.

With several big names in the sport having shared their views on where snooker's biggest tournament should be held, here are five potential venues for 2029.

Alexandra Palace – London

It might not be the most exciting option, given that it already holds one of snooker's biggest tournaments, but it makes a lot of sense.

Alexandra Palace has hosted the Masters since 2012 and is well established as a major snooker venue, with the capacity and infrastructure to accommodate a much larger audience than the Crucible.

It is also familiar territory for Barry Hearn, who has strong connections with the venue through his role as president of the Professional Darts Corporation, which stages the World Darts Championship there.

With an established snooker audience and experience of hosting major sporting events, it would be one of the more straightforward options for organisers.

Utilita Arena – Sheffield

Three-time world champion Mark Williams has made clear his desire for the tournament to remain in Sheffield, with the city's largest indoor arena an obvious alternative.

“Wherever it is, I think it should stay in Sheffield,” Williams said.

“There's plenty of arenas, there's the Sheffield Arena, where you can fit in as many people as you want in there. It won't take them long to get a good set-up there”.

Opened in 1991, the Utilita Arena has a maximum capacity of approximately 13,600, making it one of the largest potential venues on the list.

While the full capacity would not be required, the arena has considerable experience hosting major sporting events, having been home to the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team since its opening.

It would also offer an opportunity to test snooker's commercial appeal on a much bigger stage, and see whether the sport's biggest tournament could attract a significantly larger audience.

Venue Cymru – Llandudno

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has thrown his support behind Venue Cymru in Llandudno, which is already familiar to snooker fans as the home of the Welsh Open.

“I would have been happy with Llandudno,” O'Sullivan said.

“I think that's an amazing snooker venue. To play snooker in, I think it's one of the best.”

The seaside venue has hosted the Welsh Open for several years and has a theatre capacity of approximately 1,350. It could offer an atmosphere closer to the intimate surroundings of the Crucible.

The venue also has a long history, having originally opened in 1984. So, provided hopeful spectators can overlook the 35 Google Maps reviews complaining about uncomfortable seats, it could make for a brilliant World Championship setting.

Waterfront Hall – Belfast

Belfast could be another strong contender, with the Waterfront Hall already an established stop on the World Snooker Tour.

Situated beside the River Lagan, the venue has hosted the Northern Ireland Open since 2017, with the tournament becoming a popular fixture on the snooker calendar.

Its experience of staging professional snooker makes it a natural candidate for consideration, while its modern, three-tiered auditorium offers a seating capacity of nearly 1,500 for snooker.

It would also provide Northern Ireland with an opportunity to host its first World Championship, adding another major event to a region with a proud snooker heritage.

Yushan Sports Centre – Jiangxi, China

While a move to China appears less likely for 2029, the country remains an intriguing possibility for snooker's future. WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson did recently say that “all options are on the table”.

The sport has grown enormously in popularity across China, which already hosts several ranking tournaments and continues to produce some of the game's brightest young stars.

One possible venue is the Yushan Sports Centre, which has hosted the World Open and other major snooker events. It is also the world's first purpose-built venue designed specifically for billiards and snooker.

The centre boasts 3,000 permanent seats, with the option to add another 1,000, and represents the scale of investment behind the sport's rapid expansion in China.

However, the time difference and existing broadcasting arrangements would present challenges for organisers, particularly given the World Championship's long-standing relationship with the BBC.

Where would you like to see the World Championship held?

Let us know your dream venue on X. I've already submitted a bid for my local club (the tables are re-clothed every three months, you know!) and you can follow all the action from the 2026 Champion of Champions here on Totally Snookered.