The future of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is increasingly uncertain, just as one of the sport’s most prominent former champions, Graeme Dott, faces serious legal trouble.

The future of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is increasingly uncertain, just as one of the sport’s most prominent former champions, Graeme Dott, faces serious legal trouble. These developments are unfolding in parallel, raising major questions for the sport’s governance and its heritage.

 

 

Venue-uncertainty at the Crucible

The Crucible has been the home of snooker’s flagship tournament since 1977 — a venue steeped in history and atmosphere. However, the current hosting contract runs only until 2027.

Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport (which controls the World Snooker Tour), has issued a blunt warning: the Crucible will not remain the venue unless significant upgrades or expansion take place. He describes it as “no longer fit for purpose” given its 980-seat capacity and ageing facilities.

In April 2025 he stated:

> “The contract period ends in 2027 and we need a decision soon… It’s black and white: we love the Crucible, we love Sheffield, but the Crucible and Sheffield have got to love us.”

However, there has been some cautious optimism: Hearn later said that after “positive” talks with the Sheffield City Council he was “a little more hopeful” of remaining at the Crucible beyond 2027 — though he reiterated that “money will be the deciding factor”.

Key issues in the debate include:

Capacity constraints: A venue of under 1,000 seats limits ticket revenue and growth.

Commercial ambition: The sport is increasingly targeting larger audiences, bigger venues, stronger broadcast/streaming packages and higher prize money.

Heritage vs. growth: While the Crucible’s aura is unique, the business demands of a global sport are pushing for bigger scale and potentially alternative locations.

In short: the tournament is set to stay at the Crucible through 2027, but what happens afterwards is unresolved and may well see the event move to a larger arena, domestically or internationally.

Graeme Dott’s trial and wider impact

Graeme Dott, 2006 world champion at the Crucible, is facing two charges of historical child sexual abuse, involving a girl (allegedly between 1993-96) and a boy (between 2006-10), both in the Glasgow region. He has entered a plea of not guilty, and the trial has been fixed for 17 August 2026.

The governing body, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), has suspended him pending the outcome of the proceedings.

The situation raises broader issues for snooker: the reputational risk of prominent figures facing criminal proceedings, the governance and safeguarding culture within the sport, and the potential fallout for players, sponsors, tournaments and public perception.

The implications for snooker’s future

Combined, these two storylines — venue uncertainty and high-profile legal crisis — underline a moment of transition and tension in snooker. Some key points:

Brand & heritage tension: The Crucible is iconic; moving away would be emotionally significant for fans and players alike. At the same time, the sport’s commercial ambitions may demand change.

Governance scrutiny: Dott’s case places a spotlight on how snooker handles issues of safeguarding, athlete conduct, and organisational transparency.

Global aspirations: Comments by Hearn suggest that beyond 2027, overseas venues (e.g., in China or the Middle East) are within scope. If so, that signals a step‐change in snooker’s global strategy.

Risk of destabilisation: Changing venue or host city could disrupt tradition, ticketing, broadcast deals and player expectations. Meanwhile, legal controversies tarnish the sport’s image and may affect sponsorship, broadcast confidence and fan engagement.

In conclusion: while the 2025-2027 editions of the World Snooker Championship are likely secure at the Crucible, the beyond-2027 landscape is far less certain. At the same time, the sport is navigating reputational risk as a former champion stands trial for serious allegations. How snooker’s leadership handles both the venue negotiations and the safeguarding/governance issues will shape the sport’s trajectory for the next decade.