Fans have been told they must wait longer to find out if the World Snooker Championship will stay at the Crucible Theatre.
There are less than two weeks left before the start of the 2025 edition of the sport’s blue-riband event in Sheffield.
This year’s tournament will mark the 49th World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, with the iconic venue having staged the event every year since 1977.
However, the current contract to remain in Sheffield lasts only until 2027, with the tournament’s future destination beyond that uncertain.
The topic has generated much discussion and debate over the last couple of years, and many had hoped that a decision would be imminent.
Any sense of clarity on the subject still appears to be in the distance, though, with no verdict to be given during the upcoming visit to the Crucible Theatre.
While it is disappointing that the situation hasn’t yet been resolved, it was a good idea for the parties involved to release this joint statement.
At least now there will be a little less speculation and more focus on the 17 days of snooker action to come at the Crucible.
“Sheffield loves snooker,” read a joint statement on behalf of World Snooker Tour, Sheffield City Council, and Sheffield Theatres.
“Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Theatres, and World Snooker Tour have been working together, along with the BBC and partners across the city, to make the 2025 World Championship the best yet.”
“We can’t wait to welcome the snooker world back to the iconic Crucible theatre this month.
“Sheffield City Council, World Snooker Tour, and Sheffield Theatres are longstanding partners.
“Over the last 12 months we have had constructive conversations, with national Government, and key partners, about the World Snooker Championship beyond 2027.
“Due to the sensitive and commercial nature of these ongoing discussions, no announcement on the future of the Championship will be made by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Theatres, or World Snooker Tour during this year’s event.
“When we can share more information with the millions of snooker fans around the world, and with the people of Sheffield, we will provide an update.”
Opinion is divided on whether or not the World Snooker Championship should stay at the Crucible Theatre or move to a different venue.
A significant number of people involved in the sport – including a large section of its fans – believe that the World Championship shouldn’t move.
Substantiating this is the belief that the Crucible’s intimate setting has provided the backdrop to many of snooker’s most iconic moments, a legacy that should remain intact.
But many others believe that the venue’s limitations, particularly with regard to its size, prevent the event from reaching its proper potential.
Several ideas have been floated – including an unlikely rebuild of the Crucible itself, relocating to a different venue in Sheffield, or even moving to a different city altogether.
With the BBC signing a new five-year deal to broadcast the World Championship until 2032, it seems implausible now that the tournament would be taken outside the UK.
Until any new contract is signed, however, speculation will continue to be rife.
“I love the Crucible,” Ken Doherty, a three-time World Championship finalist and the champion in 1997, said on ITV last week.
“I grew up watching it. I went there first as a 14 year-old to watch, and I came back seven years later as a player.”
“I’ve been going to the Crucible since 1991, I think [that] was the first time I played there. I’ve been going there ever since.
“I love it, I think it’s the most amazing venue. Some players like it and some players don’t like it.
“But I think the atmosphere at the Crucible is like no other place that we play in, or the players that play today play in.
“It’s full of great history, great memories, great nostalgia – you get a sense of that when you’re there.
“If you haven’t been, you should put it on your bucket list. For me, the Crucible is the home of the World Championship.
“I know it only fits 950 people there, but that should be our blue-riband event, and if it doesn’t make as much money for Barry Hearn or World Snooker, so be it.
“Let all the other tournaments create all their own history and nostalgia. Keep the World Championship at the Crucible, please.”
The 2025 World Snooker Championship officially commenced on Monday, meanwhile, with the early shots taken in the preliminary competition.
As usual, a total of 16 qualifiers will join the top 16 seeds who have already guaranteed their spots in the main draw.
Among the first winners in round one were Antoni Kowalski, who beat former women’s world champion Reanne Evans, and Hammad Miah – a 10-0 winner against Jonas Luz.
Featured photo credit: WST
I’d say it’s impossible to decipher anything from such PR talk at this stage. The longer the ambiguity continues the less likely that there is a big change in the offing, would be my assessment.
Would tend to agree at this point, but hard to know for sure until something is official.
Never been more animated following live scores than the last hour following Jimmy White pip Anton Kazakov in a decider! The Whirlwind of London Town never fails to put you through the emotional wringer at this time of year 😆
One down, eight to go.
Ha, I’d take just three right now!