Wilson calls for Crucible to remain as host venue
New world snooker champion Kyren Wilson hopes the tournament will stay on at the Crucible, admitting his victory over Jak Jones would not have felt the same anywhere else.
The Sheffield venue has hosted the World Snooker Championship every year since 1977, but the current deal expires on its 50th anniversary.
Former World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has warned Sheffield City Council its days of staging the showpiece event are numbered unless the Crucible is replaced with a bigger capacity venue.
In the build-up to this year’s tournament, seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan suggested it should be moved to either Saudi Arabia or China in order to maximise profit potential.
After losing in the first round, Hossein Vafaei criticised conditions at the Crucible – calling it “smelly” and comparing practice room facilities to playing in a garage.
Wilson, who battled to an 18-14 victory over Jones on Monday, admitted his sense of achievement would have been different if the event was staged elsewhere.
“I hope it never moves. It is amazing and it literally is in the writing, it is pure theatre in there,” the 32-year-old told Sky Sports News.
“It is so intense, so compact, the atmosphere is like no other. I don’t think you can create the same intensity in a big vast venue.
“I understand why there is talk about it. Obviously there is a massive demand for snooker at the moment in all parts of the world.
“It was so important to make sure I lifted it this year because, if I ever got the chance to lift this trophy and it wasn’t at the Crucible, I don’t think it would have quite had the same effect.”