Barry Hearn has revealed snooker’s World Championship could follow the World Cup to Qatar.
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre is the sport’s spiritual home and the green-baize game’s blue-riband event has been held there ever since 1977. But there have been rumblings about moving the marquee event to a bigger venue, which would make more money, for years. The iconic Crucible only holds 980 seats and tickets for every session sell out a year in advance. Before he stepped down as World Snooker Tour chairman, Hearn - 74 - said it would only move “over his dead body” due to his connection with snooker’s history and managing Steve Davis during the sport’s perceived heyday in the 80s.
The current contract with Sheffield City Council runs until 2028, but early talks have already been held with the big-spending Qataris. Matchroom Sport President Hearn said: “Qatar said to me last week: What year does that World Snooker contract run out with Sheffield? They asked me. I said: ‘It’s 2027-28.’
“They replied: ‘Can we be in consideration? Can we have a say in it?’ They don’t have a snooker background. But if you want to do a nice big event we will put you in the mix. Who knows what is going to happen.”
When reminded he said it wouldn’t move whilst he was in charge, Hearn added: “That is correct. It is different now. Eddie is the main man. He is not a snooker fan. He likes it. He has come off the board of World Snooker because we are focusing on more global growth. Snooker is a big part of it but I know I have the right team running snooker. I am relaxed as much as I can be.”
Hearn has told the council in no uncertain terms what they need to do to keep the coveted Championships in the city — build a bigger Crucible.
But despite talks of potentially having a second venue, with a bridge linking the two, have quietened.
“I mean I have told them [Sheffield] what they have got to do. I haven’t seen too much activity in that way,” insisted Hearn.
“I need a bit more juice on it. I live in a world of people talking about things. In the world I like to operate in, it’s where people do things.
“They are in that process, I am not criticising them. Let’s hope it comes up. We are in 2023. They have 4-5 years. But I don’t want it to be a decision made in four or five years. And then have 3-4 more years during development. I am a Sheffield fan. I want to stay here. But it might not be my decision. Well it is not. I mean am the president non-executive. So I don’t really have any power.”
READ NEXT
