Snooker’s O’Sullivan Urges Crucible Upgrades to Save Tournament

World Snooker Tour (WST) majority shareholder Barry Hearn, the president of Matchroom Sport, has urged Sheffield Council to enhance the Crucible to keep the prestigious tournament at its long-standing venue. The Crucible, which has hosted the World Championship since 1977, is facing potential relocation due to a contract expiration in 2027.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, one of the sport’s greatest players, has also weighed in on how to improve the Crucible for its continued success as the home of the World Championship. O’Sullivan believes that modernization is necessary and suggests adding facilities such as relaxation rooms, more practice tables and nicer dressing rooms with showers to make it more comfortable for players. He also advocates for courtesy cars and food service at the venue for added convenience.

However, O’Sullivan acknowledges that recent improvements have been made and suggests that further upgrades are needed to enhance player experience. He proposes renovating the venue into a state-of-the-art facility that meets both player and spectator needs by bringing in interior designers or architects. This would transform it into an even more player-friendly space while maintaining its status as a premier snooker event location.