World Championship should stay in Sheffield
THOSE of a certain age will remember the BBC 2 programme “Pot Black”. It helped to bring about the revival of snooker, which had gone into the doldrums after the Joe Davis era ended.
The one frame played each week (or so we were led to believe – in reality all the matches were held over a few days) showcased the upcoming stars of the game, with people such as Ray Reardon and John Spencer becoming household names in the process.
“Pot Black” also was meant to encourage the growth of colour television, though I watched it on my small black and white portable. And there was the occasion when a commentator is supposed to have said “for those of you watching in black and white it is the ball nearest to the blue!”
The boost to snooker provided by “Pot Black” was to lead to the World Championship becoming reactivated, a development strengthened when it moved to its Crucible venue in 1977.
This Sheffield location became known as the home of snooker and has over the years seen the greatest players compete for the biggest title in the sport. The BBC has assisted snooker by giving prime time coverage on terrestrial channels, at a time when Test Cricket and The Open have gone to pay to view. And the final on May Day is a highlight in the entire UK sporting calendar. But for how long?
For the Crucible’s contract ends in 2027, and there is serious talk about
moving the event to China or Saudi Arabia, where money rules over human rights.
I hope, however, the World Championship can remain in Sheffield, even if it means a new Crucible building just as we had a new Wembley.