Sheffield steal: will Saudi cash kill off the Crucible?

The spiritual home of the sport for almost half a century is ill-equipped to stave off modern realities, writes Nick Metcalfe

- Nick Metcalfe

“On my tombstone will not be written: ‘This is the man who took the world championship away from the Crucible’. It’s staying and it don’t matter how much [money] is involved.”

Those words were spoken by former World Snooker Tour (WST) chair Barry Hearn in 2017, on the BBC's documentary The Crucible: 40 Golden Snooker Years. Everyone’s entitled to change course or their mind in life. But the difference in attitudes just seven years later is stark.

Hearn, now supposedly retired but doing a very good impression of someone who isn’t, was back on the BBC this week. He was introduced as the president of Matchroom Sport – his sports promotion company is the majority shareholder in the WST – to talk about the uncertain future of the Crucible Theatre as the host of the world championship after its current contract runs out in 2027.

“I’ll stay here while we’re wanted,” he said. “I think we’re wanted by Sheffield but we’ve said we need a new venue that seats 2,500-3,000 people. I’m looking for Sheffield to come to the party. If they do, we’re staying, and if they don’t, they’re really saying to me that we don’t want you. So it’s not really my call.”

When asked if money came before history and heritage, Hearn answered: “Trust me, money has the edge every time. We live in the real world.”