Stay in mythical Crucible or grow through Saudi Arabia and China: the 4 scenarios for the Snooker World Cup

The location of the Snooker World Cup is more under discussion than ever. The old Crucible Theatre, the venue for the world championships since 1977, is heavily criticized by top players. Former chairman of the snooker association Barry Hearn also seems to be pushing for a departure from Sheffield: “The city has until 2027 to find a solution.” But what are the possible scenarios? We list it for you.

With its 980 seats, the Crucible is always full. Renaat Schotte also knows this, who saw Luca Brecel become world champion on the spot last year.

“It is now a tradition to announce at the end of a World Cup that the next edition is already sold out. Due to the growing popularity, a hall for 1,000 people is far too few.”

Barry Hearn also feels that change needs to happen. He was the big man at the World Snooker Association until 2010 and is now chairman of Matchroom, one of the promoters in snooker.

“The Crucible has a fantastic history and it has been a big part of my life, but we have to live in the real world,” Hearn said on BBC this week.

In the Crucible it feels like I’m training in my garage.

Hossein Vafaei

The magic also seems to have disappeared for many players. “No one is enthusiastic about this room anymore,” Luca Brecel said after his elimination last weekend.

The Iranian Hossein Vafaei, active at the World Cup this week, even went a step further. “It stinks in here and it feels like I’m training here in my garage. Everything is great everywhere else, but here everything is different.”

So staying in the current Crucible does not seem to be an option. “For an event like the Snooker World Cup, the location is dated,” says Renaat Schotte. “On the other hand, that’s part of the charm. You don’t get that atmosphere in a larger room.”

Schotte also understands the players’ concerns. “There is limited catering and the corridors are small. To put it bluntly: it is almost a parish hall.”

“Everything is very small. Nothing has changed, in a world that is evolving.”

Many players want to see change. Disappearing from Sheffield completely, as has already been suggested, is somewhat more difficult.

“This is hallowed ground. It is almost sacrilege for a professional snooker player to be openly critical of our home,” former world champion Shaun Murphy said in response to Vafaei.

Option 2 is a new room in the same location.

“We need a new venue with room for 2,500 to 3,000 people because I’m tired of getting letters from people asking how they can get a ticket,” Hearn told the BBC.

The Crucible is sporting heritage, but that does not mean that the World Cup will remain there.

Renaat Schotte

Then the question is what Sheffield does. The contract with the city expires in 2027. “It is logical that Hearn is now issuing an ultimatum. Time is running out if they have to build a new hall,” says Schotte.

“Just because Sheffield and the Crucible are sporting heritage doesn’t mean the World Cup will stay there. If they’re smart they’ll build a new one venue. I don’t know if Sheffield has the money to pay for it.”

But isn’t the tradition and its status as a “place of pilgrimage” for snooker fans in danger of disappearing?

“The Maracana stadium in Brazil has also been completely renovated. Wembley was even demolished for a new stadium. That experience is still there,” Schotte makes the comparison with football.

If a new venue in Sheffield is not practically feasible, other countries are ready as a replacement. A third option according to Barry Hearn is to play at another location for 10 years after 2027.

The demand for this from Saudi Arabia is increasing. Even Ronnie O’Sullivan is leaning towards a World Cup move to the Middle East.

“I think it is a good idea to organize the World Cup elsewhere. Saudi Arabia seems to me to be an excellent alternative,” says the Englishman.

An important note: the 7-time world champion is a sports ambassador of Saudi Arabia.

Money is important. I don’t want to be a dinosaur and not evolve like that.

Barry Hearn at BBC

The flirtation with Saudi Arabia is no coincidence. The boarding in the current Crucible features Riyadh Season, a nationally funded entertainment festival.

“It’s almost sacrilege,” says snooker enthusiast Renaat Schotte. “There is the sky’s the limit. But if the prize money were multiplied by 10, you would be stupid as a player or manager not to do it.”

Hearn also thinks about the financial picture. “Money always has an advantage over history. The world is changing. I don’t want to be a dinosaur and not evolve.”

Although the snooker bobo would also like to stay in Sheffield. “I want to stay here, but I need a reason. Everyone has to do their part.”

There is also a fourth option: a rotation system between 3 locations.

Barry Hearn himself explained it this week on BBC. “As a world championship we will go around the world, maybe a year in Saudi Arabia, a year in China and a year in Sheffield.”

“Why does the Snooker World Cup have to have one home? Why isn’t the Crucible transported to Beijing or Saudi Arabia every year?”

I understand that players choose their money’s worth.

Renaat Schotte

China will therefore also participate in the battle for the World Cup from 2027. “I absolutely understand that they dream of China,” says Renaat Schotte.

“At tournaments there, halls with 9,000 places are sometimes full. If that is possible at a World Cup, for two weeks in a row, then you generate a lot of income.”

“Then players would also receive more prize money. I understand that they are choosing their money’s worth.”