Barry Hearn, the former World Snooker chairman and president of Matchroom, has warned Sheffield City Council that the city’s days of hosting the World Snooker Championship are numbered unless the Crucible is replaced with a larger venue. Hearn says there is no room for sentiment when the venue’s current deal expires in 2027, adding, “It’s all about the money.”
The future of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield is hanging in the balance, with Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn warning that the event could leave the Crucible Theatre in 2027 if the city council does not agree to build a larger venue. Hearn has made it clear that he wants the championship to remain in Sheffield, but only if the council commits to a new arena with a capacity of 2,500-3,000 people. The council has yet to indicate whether it will support Hearn’s proposal, leaving open the possibility that the tournament could move to a different location, either in the UK or abroad.
Dominic Dale, the 52-year-old Welshman, was eliminated from the World Snooker Championship in the first round by Kyren Wilson. Dale, who had not qualified for the event in ten years, suffered a 10-1 loss to Wilson, who is now set to face Joe O’Connor in round two. Despite his defeat, Dale thanked the crowd in German before the start of the second session on Thursday, acknowledging fans from Vienna. Dale also expressed disappointment in his performance and admitted to struggling with the mental aspect of the match. He will now join the Eurosport punditry team in London for the remainder of the tournament.
Kyren Wilson has arrived at the World Snooker Championship with a puzzling season behind him. Despite scoring 61 centuries, the second-highest on the tour, Wilson has failed to qualify for several major tournaments. However, he believes his scoring form will eventually translate into results. Wilson is not considered a top contender for the title but welcomes the opportunity to replicate his surprise junior career success. In his first-round match, Wilson will face a resurgent Dominic Dale, a veteran who has returned to the Crucible after a ten-year absence.
Mark Selby’s hopes of a record-equaling fifth World Snooker Championship were dashed on Monday as he was eliminated in the first round by debutant Joe O’Connor. O’Connor, the only first-timer at this year’s tournament, showed nerves of steel to beat the four-time world champion 10-6. Selby, who had hinted he would consider retiring after losing to Gary Wilson earlier this month, admitted he will reassess his future in the summer.
Former world champion Shaun Murphy has fiercely defended the Crucible Theatre after Iranian rival Hossein Vafaei criticized its conditions. Speculation surrounds the venue’s future as stars consider more lucrative options abroad, but Murphy believes it should remain as the sport’s spiritual home.
