World Snooker Championship could be moved away from iconic Crucible – and Ronnie O’Sullivan backs shock switch
THE World Snooker Championship could be moved from the iconic Crucible – and Ronnie O’Sullivan backs that switch.
The shock news has been revealed ahead of this year’s World Championship, which begins on Saturday.
It comes on the back of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season becoming a commercial partner of the tournament.
And legend O’Sullivan has also penned a three-year ambassadorial deal to help grow the sport in the Middle East nation.
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre has hosted the World Championship since 1977.
It is widely-regarded as snooker’s spiritual home but the current deal with Sheffield City Council to stage it there expires in three years.
Tickets selling out a year in advance for the 980-capacity venue is a regular occurrence – although some believe the sport has outgrown the Crucible.
Now there are fears that it could be moved to Saudi after they declared their intentions to try and secure snooker’s showpiece tournament.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, said: “We are ready.
“We will discuss it with Eddie Hearn from Matchroom. We are ready and it will be a pleasure to have everything in our country.
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“We also support having it in another country so maybe one day we will do something huge here in England.”
Alalshikh added: “We hope these contracts with snooker will become bigger and bigger.
“Ronnie O’Sullivan is a legend. I want an army of people playing snooker in my country.”
The Rocket himself has also revealed that he does not believe the rich history of the Crucible should mean it stays there.
As he prepares to try and clinch a record eighth crown, O’Sullivan said: “Listen, Sheffield’s got the history and that history will never change.
“A lot of people say, what about the history there? Come on man, history is getting rewritten everyday.
“I think if Eddie and Barry [Hearn] and World Snooker decide it is right to take it to Saudi, then why not?
“It’s a massive circus and you need a massive space to accommodate it.
“Saudi Arabia would be great. They’ve got the resources and would do great.”
Honorary World Snooker Tour (WST) president Barry Hearn has openly challenged the council to try and keep the tournament there.
He wants them to invest and rebuild a bigger Crucible.