Capacity crowd to watch final at Crucible

A CAPACITY crowd is expected to be able to attend the final of the 2021 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, organisers have confirmed.

The Sheffield tournament will be the first sporting competition included in UK Government plans for a pilot programme enabling the safe return of mass gatherings and indoor events as lockdown restrictions ease in England.

The World Snooker Tour (WST) has provided an update for ticket holders, setting out plans for the event, which runs from April 17 to May 3.

All of those attending will have to take a Covid-19 test before they arrive, and must show confirmation of a negative result to enter the venue, as well as having another test at home five days later.

Capacity will be set at 33% for the first round, from April 17-21. There will be “1m+” social distancing observed between different ticket groups/bookings, while face coverings will have to be worn inside, including when spectators are sitting down in the theatre.

The number of spectators will be increased to 50% for the secondround matches from April 22, increasing to 75% for both the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

The WST said social distancing “will not be expected under this capacity although some mitigation procedures will be required to reduce the risk of transmission, including wearing face coverings in the venue”.

For the final on May 2-3, it is hoped the venue “will operate without any capacity restriction” at about 980 seats, with organisers accepting “it will not be possible to avoid different parties sitting alongside one another”.

Social distancing measures would also not be expected, although “mitigation procedures” such as wearing face coverings in the venue could be necessary.

Under the pilot scheme, no children will be allowed at the Crucible, only those over 18.

Any adults deemed clinically extremely vulnerable or who are pregnant will also not be permitted to attend, so will be offered either the option to transfer their ticket to the 2022 tournament or claim a full refund.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will be bidding for a seventh title when he defends his Crucible crown, which he won with victory over Kyren Wilson in August.

The delayed 2020 tournament had initially been open to fans on the first day.

However, it then went behind closed doors amid tighter coronavirus restrictions, before a limited number of spectators were eventually allowed back in for the final two days of the championship when O’Sullivan defeated Wilson 18-8.