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World Snooker Championship: Barry Hearn insists ‘priority’ is to stay in Sheffield – ‘It’s our home’

Barry Hearn insists the “priority” is keeping the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield but says he is likely to walk away from the Crucible.

The World Championship has been held at the Crucible since 1977, but the current contract is due to expire in 2027, with players apparently divided over whether they should stay in the Steel City or move to different locations around the world.

However, the Matchroom Sport chairman and former World Snooker Tour chairman has now softened his stance on the matter.

“The priority is to stay in the Steel City of Sheffield because it has been our home for a long, long time,” Hearn told the BBC.

“Great times. But we owe it to everyone to listen. We listen to the fans, we listen to the locals, we listen to the players.

“The Effect on Prize Money. We look at the conditions and say the game has moved on and deserves better than the current conditions.”

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While the 75-year-old would like the event to remain in Sheffield, he is still adamant that the iconic Crucible in its current state is no longer fit for purpose.

It is one of the smallest venues on the calendar and hosts the biggest event every year, while facilities such as the training room have also been criticized this year.

“I think it’s new construction in town,” Hearn added. “It can’t be an expansion of the Crucible. There is not enough space. The building is too small.

“But I think there are other buildings that could be converted … but I need a place to emphasize the importance of the event, the quality of the event.

“You can’t put it in a leisure center and say ‘this is our World Championship’ just for the sake of another 1,000 (or) 1,500 tickets a session.”

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Such is the tournament’s importance to the city, both economically and historically, that Hearn also said he believed the council would “move heaven and earth” to hang on to the event.

Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in sports has now reached snooker. The kingdom staged the inaugural season of the Riyadh World Masters of Snooker earlier this year and more tournaments are expected to follow.

There are also rumors of a separate tournament, similar to LIV Golf, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF has so far poured billions into golf, which has left the men’s professional game fractured.

Hearn also dismissed the idea of ​​a rival tournament at the WST.

“I don’t know why people talk about it,” he continued. “The players have more freedom now, out of contract, where there is no contract with World Snooker, to have an event themselves.

“There is absolutely no interest in a separate tournament from any player.”

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