Barry Hearn has revealed that China is ready to spend vast sums of money to take the World Snooker Championship from The Crucible Theatre. The historic venue’s continued hosting of the tournament is under threat due to the growing interest in the sport.
The Crucible, which has a deal to host the World Championship until 2027, can only seat 980 people. Hearn has argued that the small capacity limits the amount of prize money that can be offered to players. Some stars, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, are in favour of taking the event away from The Crucible and staging it abroad. Promoters Matchroom have received an offer from China to take the tournament from Sheffield, where it has been played since 1977.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “We have huge amounts of money on offer, especially now from the likes of Beijing and Shanghai, that would love to have the World Championship with their world champion (Zhao Xintong) defending his title.”
The 76-year-old also renewed his calls for Government intervention in the sport. Positive talks were held with Sheffield City Council over improving the facilities at The Crucible over the coming years.
Hearn wants an enlarged Crucible and more funding for the sport from the Government. He continued: “If we were still in the same sport we were 10, 20, 30 years ago we wouldn’t have a problem. I’ve been there for 48 years. The sport has changed my life.
“But it has to be fit for [purpose]… to offer the commercial rewards necessary to keep the event in the UK. I would love to see it remain at an enlarged Crucible with Government funding. They fund so many other sports for the interests of the country. But we’re in a strong position.
“History says we want to stay in Sheffield. I want to stay at Sheffield. But it can’t be at the expense of holding the game back.”
Last year, seven-time world champion O’Sullivan called for the tournament to be moved from The Crucible, claiming that he does not enjoy playing a 17-day event at the venue.
“I don’t actually like The Crucible to be honest,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport. “I’d much rather it go anywhere than The Crucible. I know it’s a great venue but I don’t like playing there for 17 days. For me if it goes anywhere but the Crucible it would be brilliant.”