Barry Hearn, the influential president of Matchroom Sport, has expressed confidence that the 2029 World Snooker Championship will remain in the United Kingdom despite temporary displacement from its iconic Sheffield home.
While the Crucible Theatre undergoes a major £45 million redevelopment project that will add 500 seats to its capacity, the tournament will need to find a temporary venue for at least one year. Hearn acknowledged that China—which already hosts multiple ranking events—has been mentioned as a potential alternative host, but he strongly favors keeping the championship on British soil.
"If I was a gambling man I would go odds-on it stays in the UK," Hearn stated. "Great Britain is the home of snooker, it is where we grew up as a sport, and I'm very loath to move it anywhere else."
The veteran sports promoter did concede that financial considerations could influence the final decision, noting that "if the right offer comes in I will have to consider it." However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining relationships with key partners like the BBC and avoiding disruptive time zone changes that would affect broadcast schedules.
The renovation project, funded by £35 million from national and local government sources plus £10 million from private investment, will modernize the aging venue that has hosted the World Championship since 1977. Hearn praised the collaborative effort that secured the Crucible's future through 2045.
"The team at World Snooker and Sheffield City Council have done the sensible thing and pulled off a deal that works for everybody," Hearn said. "I would've hated to not be here, I'm so glad we're staying."
While acknowledging the venue's limitations—"I'd have loved 3,000 seats but I can't have that"—Hearn expressed satisfaction with the compromise that preserves the tournament's historic home while improving facilities for players and spectators alike.