Snooker stars express joy about historic Crucible Theatre deal for the World Championship

An historic announcement from the World Snooker Tour was published on Tuesday, declaring that a long-term agreement had been struck with Sheffield City Council - along with help from the UK’s central government - to keep the sport’s blue riband event at the Crucible until 2045, with an extension option until 2050.

As part of the deal, the iconic venue will undergo significant building works later this decade to improve its facilities, and reconfigure the arena to potentially add an extra 500 seats for spectators.

The upgrades are expected to take place after the 2028 World Snooker Championship, meaning the tournament will have to temporarily move elsewhere whilst the work is carried out. As yet, there is no news on where the substitute venue will be.

Star names ‘thrilled’ and ‘happy’ that ‘special’ Crucible stays

Several of snooker’s superstar names have had their say about the gigantic news, including seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.

The great Scot - who still holds a record 29-match winning streak at the Crucible between 1992 to 1997 - said: "There is simply nowhere else like the Crucible or anywhere else that could replicate that atmosphere or the sense of history. It was always my favourite place to play and I still love going to Sheffield. I am thrilled that we are staying there long term."

Reigning Crucible king Zhao Xintong made history last year when he became the first cueist from Asia to win the world professional snooker championship. He also technically did it as an amateur player, and from the opening qualifying round.

Zhao, like many other overseas players on the professional circuit, has made Sheffield his home and practice base in recent years, and the 28-year-old is also very pleased that the World Snooker Championship is staying put in S1 1DA. He said: "I am so happy because I love the Crucible, it is a very special place and all Chinese players want to play there.

“Sheffield has become my home in the UK and it is famous around the world as the home of snooker. I am so pleased that we are working together to keep the World Championship in the city."

Champion there in 2010, Australia’s Neil Robertson posted on social media saying: “Wow amazing news!!!”, while three-time champion Mark Williams - who became snooker’s oldest-ever world finalist last year - also said online: “perfect , should never leave there.”

Sir Keir Starmer delivers on his desire to keep Championship in Sheffield

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer has played a big role in setting up this long-term commitment that will keep snooker’s top tournament in the ‘Steel City’ for the next few generations.

Starmer met with Jason Ferguson - the chairman of snooker’s governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) - a few weeks ago during a business trip in China, and he was also seen visiting the Crucible venue since then from which he described his ‘passion’ in keeping the 17-day spectacle there.

On today’s big reveal, the PM said: "We have a deep cultural and sporting heritage here in the UK - sport, art and culture are the very best of us. It's what makes us proud not only of the country, but the places that we're from.

"I had the pleasure of recently visiting Sheffield, the home of the oldest football club in the world, to urge partners to support a major redevelopment of the iconic Crucible theatre to keep sport and culture thriving in this city.

"I’m delighted with today’s confirmation that the theatre and the city will stay host to the famous World Snooker Championship for at least the next two decades."