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.’
