'It’s gone' – Williams paints bleak future for Crucible's World Championship future

Mark Williams has joined John Higgins by predicting the World Snooker Championship’s impending departure from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The 980-seat Crucible has staged the sport’s greatest tournament since 1977, but there is speculation it will move to a larger more salubrious venue when World Snooker Tour’s contract expires in 2027 – 50 years after John Spencer claimed the title with a 25-21 win over 1980 champion Cliff Thorburn.

The size of the Crucible is one issue with media reports also suggesting that China and/or Saudi Arabia will increase the prize money considerably if they are allowed to host the World Championship.

As president of Matchroom Sport, majority shareholders in WST, Barry Hearn appeared to cast doubt over the future of the event being staged by the Crucible when the venue’s current agreement with Sheffield City Council ends.

“Common sense says I have a fiduciary duty to the players to provide the biggest prize money because they’re professional athletes.

“And there is no point in saying: ‘Oh, think of the history’. You can’t eat history.”

While Williams would like to see the World Championship remain at the venue where he triumphed in 2000, 2003 and 2018, he believes money talks when it comes to the direction of travel for the flagship event.

“A few years ago I was one of the people saying that snooker probably needed to move,” said the Welshman. “But I’ve changed my mind now, and I think it should stay at the Crucible.

“You can’t generate the same atmosphere that the Crucible has with 900, you just can’t do it.”

“At the end of the day, with the way sport is going now, money talks. I just think it’s inevitable, as soon as that contract runs out, it’s gone,” said Williams speaking to former darts player Wayne Mardle on YouTube.

“Whether it’s Saudi or China, I don’t know. Money seems to be the main ruler of sport these days.

“I thought China would’ve been front runners if the World Championship ever moved from Sheffield.

“Obviously, Saudi has just put a tournament on recently, and it seems like they have almost got every sport from boxing to football.

“If the players had a vote, I think most of them would vote for it to go to Saudi or China.

“If you have a million or two million for the winner, that money would filter down.”

Four-time world champion Higgins said he was proud to conquer the Crucible four times before its departs its spiritual home.

“It will be a shame when it leaves here. Which I think it will in about three years’ time.”