26 April 2024 , 08:36
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Snooker legend Jimmy White has pleaded with Barry Hearn to keep the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
The iconic Sheffield-based venue has a contract to host the tournament until 2027 - but after that there is major doubt about whether the sport's bosses will take it elsewhere. The Crucible holds less than 1000 fans, which does impact on the profitability of the tournament.
Hearn has called on Sheffield to build a new venue that can house more fans. China and Saudi Arabia are keen to host the tournament and, with the money and luxuries on offer, a move away from South Yorkshire is seriously being considered, albeit those who've followed the sport for years are saddened by the prospect.
White, a six-time finalists at the championship, told Eurosport : "What would be lost if we leave? Well, the magic of this venue. Some of the new players coming through, they will have to get used to the two-table situation where you get the applause on the other side. But that is part of the magic.
"When you get to a one-table situation, there is no other venue that I have played in, which is as good as this. We have both played at the Conference Centre in London, which was also a fantastic venue. Unfortunately that got knocked down. We loved Ally Pally [Alexandra Palace], which has got a great atmosphere.
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"But here are the World Championships, it has been here 1977. In the 1980s, snooker became huge, it has gone from strength to strength. People don’t turn around and say, 'I want to play at the World Championship.' They say, 'I want to play at the Crucible.'
"This theatre has a fantastic drama and fantastic atmosphere, for me. This place has an electric atmosphere. In the first round, the people are very close to you when you are playing a shot. That is part of the magic of this place."
Barry Hearn admits a bigger venue is needed (Getty Images)The Crucible has copped criticism in the early weeks of the tournament. Before it even began Ronnie O'Sullivan said he'd been keen to head elsewhere, citing the five-star treatment they get in other venues around the world. Hossein Vafaei has said: "You walk around the Crucible and it smells really bad. As a player I’m honest, it’s just really bad. Everything’s so bad"
Hearn has admitted it is on Sheffield to "come to the party" if they want to remain the home of snooker's most iconic tournament.
He said: "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. 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."