Snooker News
Sports Journalist @RazMirza
Mark Selby says he would like to see the World Snooker Championship stay in the UK when the Crucible is being refurbished in 2029 - and possibly also 2030 - but is aware President of Matchroom Sport, Barry Hearn, has a "variety of ideas".
Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has helped to secure the future of the tournament in Sheffield amid fears it could have moved to China or Saudi Arabia with an agreement made for it to stay in the city until 2045, with an option to continue to 2050.
The historic venue held the famous 1985 black ball final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis, and in 1997, fans witnessed Ronnie O'Sullivan score a maximum 147 in just five minutes eight seconds.
But seven-time champion O'Sullivan has advocated for a move away from the Crucible, which has held the tournament since 1977, with critics saying the venue is cramped and outdated.
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President of Matchroom Sport, Barry Hearn, said the Crucible Theatre is 'not fit for purpose', but wanted the World Championship to remain at the venue if it is revamped - he now has his wish! President of Matchroom Sport, Barry Hearn, said the Crucible Theatre is 'not fit for purpose', but wanted the World Championship to remain at the venue if it is revamped - he now has his wish!The £45m refurbishment will add up to 500 seats to the 980 current capacity and improve spectator facilities.
The game has exploded in popularity in China, with a reported 60 million active players, and the current world champion Zhao Xintong is Chinese.
Meanwhile, the Saudis have sought to use sport as a driver for economic growth, expanding into golf, boxing and football.
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, held in Jeddah, last year boasted a prize pot of £2.3m and is one of the sport's four major tournaments.
The World Snooker Tour are hoping they will only have to be away from Sheffield for one of those years with an alternative venue yet been decided.
Selby, a four-time world champion, is hopeful the event won't go abroad, despite assurances from the WST.
"For me, I'd like to keep it in the UK," said Selby, who has taken time away from the game in recent weeks on health grounds. "I know Barry Hearn, sometimes he's got a variety of ideas. He'd like to move it around but we play a lot of tournaments in China now. We have a lot of big tournaments in China.
"We have a big ranking event out in Saudi, which is the same prize money as the world championships as it stands. So, I mean, it's not like they've not got a big tournament. They've still got a big tournament.
"When it does move, then I'd rather it still be in the UK, wherever that wherever that will be."
Possible destinations include Alexandra Palace in London - where the World Darts Championship is staged - or Manchester Central, where the Tour Championship is being held.
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Selby, a winner at the Crucible in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021, suffered a shock first-round defeat to Ben Woollaston last year but bounced back to capture his third UK Championship title and his 10th Triple Crown event at the York Barbican in December.
With the likes of O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, Wu Yize, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and defending champion Zhao Xintong all in the mix to win the coveted title this year, Selby believes it will be "very competitive".
The 42-year-old said: "I think there's probably 16 to 20 players that you could probably pick who's probably capable of winning it.
"You've got Robertson, who is top of the money list. There's also Kieran Wilson, not had the best of seasons, but he's been there and won it before. Murphy has been playing well this season and Mark Allen's playing well.
"It'll be hard to predict this year. What I will guarantee, I'm sure it'll be a great standard of snooker at Sheffield over the two weeks when it starts.
"I think that just goes to show how strong the game is in depth now."
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David Beckham talks of going to the snooker halls with his team-mates after Manchester United training and feels Ronnie O'Sullivan could be the greatest snooker player of all time David Beckham talks of going to the snooker halls with his team-mates after Manchester United training and feels Ronnie O'Sullivan could be the greatest snooker player of all time'Ronnie is the greatest player of all time'
Can O'Sullivan win a record-breaking eighth world title in Sheffield? O'Sullivan made history when he made the highest-ever break in the history of the professional game with a score of 153 in the first frame of his 5-0 win over Ryan Day at the World Open in China.
The seven-time world champion went on to reach a ranking final for the first time since winning the World Grand Prix over two years ago where he lost to Thai star Un-Nooh, who hit a 147 maximum break on his way to a 10-7 victory.
"Ronnie's 153 was an amazing feat to do," said Selby. "It had to be him, didn't it? If somebody was going to do it, it had to be him. It was probably the only record he's not got.
"Ronnie is the greatest player of all time, and anything he does, it doesn't really surprise you. He's just an absolute genius and a credit to our game."
This year's tournament begins on April 18 and runs until May 4.
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