Hearn fires out a Crucible warning

BARRY Hearn has warned Sheffield City Council its days of staging the World Snooker Championship are numbered unless the Crucible is ripped down and replaced with a bigger capacity venue.

- MARK STANIFORTH

Hearn, the former World Snooker chairman and president of Matchroom, says there is no room for sentiment when the venue's current deal expires in 2027 its 50th anniversary of staging the Championships adding: "It's all about the money."

Speculation over the future of the venue was sparked in the build-up to this year's tournament by seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan, who suggested it should be moved to either Saudi Arabia or China in order to maximise profit potential.

Meanwhile, Hossein Vafaei blasted conditions at the 900-capacity Crucible, calling it "smelly" and comparing practice room facilities to playing in a garage after losing in the first round to Judd Trump.