Barry Hearn on potentially moving the World Championships away from The Crucible 💰 👀

Stream the 2024 World Snooker Championship live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.
News and coverage from the #1 sports destination and the #HomeofSnooker in Europe. Watch Eurosport anytime, anywhere via: bit.ly/3boIVvd
We bring you some of the biggest sports events in the world, such as World Snooker Championships, Northern Ireland Open, Champion of Champions Snooker, UK Championship, Scottish Open, World Grand Prix, Masters Snooker, Shoot Out, Players Championship, German Masters, Welsh Open, European Masters, Gibraltar Open, amongst so many more.
Do you want to see more? Subscribe now to watch Eurosport anytime, anywhere: bit.ly/3boIVvd
Follow us on:
KZbin: goo.gl/o9rbKg
Facebook: goo.gl/jMfLNR
Twitter: goo.gl/jxT1fY
Instagram: bit.ly/2TOtykZ

[@fakersdozen]

A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

[@synrgiii]

Well said

[@AlexM-ui8me]

He's nothing more than a parasite, surely Steve Davis can see their "friendship" was a farce and Hearn was simply using him. I hope Hearn suffers a particularly nasty end to his existence, and at 75, here's more than hoping he doesn't have many more years of his pointless, money driven ways.

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

He's really going to ruin snooker isn't he... setting up his own generational wealth

[@marklittlewood2919]

Superb comment

[@heliumtrophy]

Him and his son - destroyers of all that is sacred.

[@EveryonesAWinner]

The masters is awful with 2,500 shouting out the crucible is an amazing intimate venue with less drunk idiots

[@gordoncockfield]

Too many seats. At the back of the crucible the view is just about ok.

[@AD-kv9kj]

Best venue name in all sport too, "The Crucible". Huge venues full of people who can't see what's going on and have to just end up watching a tv at the back, using it as another excuse to crank prices through the roof anyway, Saudi oil sheikhs wandering about making noise while someone's on the final colours of a 147... Meanwhile, what will the actual benefit be? Slightly more prize money? Another billionaire or two made at the top...more access to high level corrupt business dealings for the WPBSA? Is that really worth selling out and trampling all over the soul of snooker for? Seems to be the way every business goes now.

[@heliumtrophy]

@@AD-kv9kj Too right, mate. Really fucking pisses me off.

[@joshd790]

Yeah but that doesn’t make the price money bigger 98% of people watch on tv so it small minded view

[@wernerandreeloerts]

@everyonesawinner is adolf also a winner?

[@user-yt5il3yi1z]

Barry Hearn couldn't give a monkeys where its Sheffield or the moon, as long as that bank balance gets bigger.

[@weetabix2]

To be honest he’s just being a business man. Love him or loathe him, he makes money from the players passion for snooker and the people’s passion to watch the game. From that perspective, any sense of sentimentality loses him a buck or two. At this stage, if it isn’t the Hearns who take the initiative, someone else will and the players will break rank anyway for a larger payday, while potentially still being able to play at the worlds…..whatever the decision is in 2027. I’m no business man myself, and in many respects prefer not to have a dime in my pocket than to sacrifice my morals, yet, with a Hearn Hat on, I can see that it’s an obvious meal ticket to change the structure of the game. In the long run, I don’t think it will knock the sport one jot. Passion is passion is passion, you can’t put a price on it…and THIS is how the Hearns have made the billions they have done. Even an iconic venue like the crucible had a beginning…….and yet we are now so far ahead from those beginnings that these boys and girls coming into the sport won’t necessarily feel connected to that long ago history as I do as a 48yr old. I think the time is ripe for change personally. Time to create a new history for these young’ns.😊

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

The "world snooker tour" should be a non-profit organisation. SO wrong that one family has control over the whole sport.

[@marklittlewood2919]

Spot on ..great comment

[@MarkLyell]

Snooker is a niche sport. Outside of the UK and Ireland, no one gives a flying toss about snooker except China and Thailand - it would kill the sport dead to move the WC to Saudi.

[@davidbrown9947]

^yup, this

[@mra2316]

Wouldn’t it bring more eyes to the sport if they took it out of Sheffield.

[@alecspyrou2134]

Wrong. You forgot where it started and in one of the biggest countries in the world. India. Also the Arab states. So when you add those to all the other countries you get a better view

[@theironshiek]

Rachel and her questions were absolutely brilliant. Isn't just there kissing his arse like you see most inteveiwers/reporters, she actually had the balls to ask some proper questions. Good on her

[@TraianusImperator]

Hosting the WC in Saudi Arabia will be the death to the sport.

[@stephenboyd4934]

Yes it will rip the heart out of the game, money cannot buy history but it can ruin it

[@harrypell2603]

Yes I have a bad feeling about that idea it will take away the charm of the World Championships in my opinion

[@harrypell2603]

@@stephenboyd4934 Yeah for sure 👍

[@martinkelleher5662]

Sad state of affairs its inevitable its going away unfortunately. Money talks . The crucible is the home of snooker why can't they expand the crucible or build a new one . 900 currently capacity it needs to be bigger

[@PeoplingProductions]

100% - it's all very well dismissing everything we have as old and pointless and all just nostalgia bla bla, so therefore let's just allow big business and billionaires to dictate literally everything we do...but it'll just be more dodgy castles made of sand and oil...

[@JohnDoe-bw3tz]

Greed. Greed. Greed. Greed.

[@user-by2dz4ms2n]

Sad to see it go the same way as football soulless

[@harrypell2603]

Yes agreed

[@J5X7]

Yep the same. Foreign Billions ruined it decades ago. Today they kneel for bullshit and it gets presented by a cnut. It stirs zero in people that recognise bullshit.

[@underneonloneliness2]

Soulless and just all money related. It’s sickening!

[@AD-kv9kj]

Man, I only just walked past a bloke leaving the supermarket who was on his phone talking really loudly and aggressively to some mate saying, "I NEED...WE need a new keeper NOW!" and going on about how many tens of millions of pounds HE...sorry, THEY need to spend on one. Some absolute nobody student thinking he's part of the billionaire in-crowd because he follows some football team. Some people love this stuff because it makes them feel like they're part of the super-rich elite talking about multi-million pound deals for players bla bla. Absolute bootlickers and airheads.

[@khaistortroy4928]

Difference is no one is taking football venues or grounds, anfield or OT not going to saudi. The issue is they want to take the venue away.

[@TheCarlhungness]

But I do recall the day Barry said, "The World Championship will always remain at the Crucible." I didn't think it was a wise statement at the time.

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

Honestly thought it would take Eddie taking over (rip Barry) to see this day as he has no respect for the sport. Barry loves it but obviously the last generational payday has taken over

[@AndrewWms]

He says he has fans telling him they can’t get tickets, so his answer for that is alienating them and the other 99% of fans who do by moving it to Saudi Arabia.

[@Bobbynutty]

Nearly all of the tickets go to coperates hardly anyone has a chance

[@terryleddra1973]

Hearn could not care less about Snooker, the players or the audience. It's about how much cash he can extract from the sport for himself.

[@davidbrown9947]

£5million pounds first prize. Lies, thats twice more than Wimbledon FFS. Bollocks. Rachel nailed the interview

[@tylaplease]

You clearly aren’t aware how much money they’re paying boxers to fight there. AJ got £30 million to fight Ngannou

[@gordoncockfield]

Snooker ain't that popular

[@davidbrown9947]

@@tylaplease apples and pears m8. The first prize will not be double Wimbledon FFS.

[@tylaplease]

@@davidbrown9947time will tell but again, the Saudis basically have an endless money pot and if they want to tempt Barry Hearn with moving the world championship to Saudi by potentially offering £5 million for the winner they could easily do so. I was just pointing out how much money they have by using boxing as an example

[@harrypell2603]

@@gordoncockfield Hmmm not so sure about that 🤔

[@TraianusImperator]

Rachel could've asked better questions though: "you say people are not able to get tickets for the crucible, do you think those people will want to travel to Saudi Arabia?"

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

Yes, yes they will.

[@RogerJJSmith]

Yes they will.

[@chrisboggon9467]

Saudi Arabia will ship people in to make it look like it's well attended

[@101spirited]

@@chrisboggon9467 only men though

[@stewartmcrae8007]

Rachel needs to be very careful what questions she asks

[@Dave-wh3hw]

Eddie don't care about snooker

[@bradleythring2853]

Barry even stated that in the cue tips video with Hendry! It's a bit worrying!

[@JackGallagher2014]

He said it himself on talkSPORT a few weeks ago he couldn’t care a less he will take it to Saudi in a heartbeat

[@joehedges9463]

Fans struggling to get tickets so move it half way across the world?

[@davidbrown9947]

^Madness

[@ahudspith]

Barry is talking rubbish. I went to my 1st Crucible match this year with a friend. 2 tickets sat next to each other. They were easy to get. I just had to book a year early. And Id expect that with any other major event.

[@therebel4332]

Yes but they need to justify the reason for sending somewhere else,, and straight up barefaced lying is all good nowadays.

[@afrokid3890]

Nah you wouldn’t expect to book a year early for the World Cup final, Wimbledon etc… in fact not many sports where what you’re saying is remotely true… Think your talking rubbish tbh, name a few?

[@rockface901]

thank you , i know hearn is talking crap

[@TraianusImperator]

Like the people that allegedly can't get tickets would go to Saudi Arabia.

[@casinoroyle007]

Agree with you

[@jjdebruyne]

Promised it would always be in Sheffield then the Saudis turn up and it will now leave Sheffield. If the boxing is anything to go by the atmosphere will be awful. As he said it’s all about lining his pocket. The world championship will never be the same from this point onwards

[@matthewelton63]

Enit just 💯

[@rockface901]

totally correct - I do however believe that the event should be held in China every other year...i think its only fair for Chinese players. But Saudi...jeez , what a mistake that would be for the game.

[@Hellrun]

Did you see the crowd at the last Saudi event? John Higgins on a maximum and there are people stood up walking all over the place. Lol what a joke.

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

Disgusting what he's doing pal

[@gordoncockfield]

He's been waiting years to do it just slowly bit by bit

[@snookerstones]

Sad to see the great man sell his soul after all these years

[@carleaston2177]

Spot on Snookerstones

[@WestCoastWilliam]

@snookerstones Great man? After all these years? He’s always been a scumbag and so is his son. A pair of greedier men you’d struggle to find anywhere

[@matthewmorgan748]

Too true.... Ask his old cash cow Steve davis what he thinks 🤔

[@user-cn9xc7pe2u]

⁠@@matthewmorgan748Actually Steve Davis just discussed it with Stephen Hendry on the latest CueTips. He seems open to the idea. Hendry is not so keen on the idea.

[@user-rc2xt1gt7b]

he was always a prick.

[@ianbetts1408]

It's all about the money with Barry. He was an accountant before snooker came into his life. It's going to the Saudi Arabia.

[@Nico-qt4qz]

Or 🇨🇳.

[@user-mg5er5hq9f]

Totally agree 3 more years enjoy it people because we all know it's going to saudi

[@caeserornothing]

That's called being a businessesman, not a politician

[@gch9857]

You take the World Championship away from The Crucible, then you wreck it’s identity. You take the World Championship overseas to Saudi Arabia or Qatar, then you make it soulless. This is going to be the biggest decision in Snooker history.

[@carrroad]

Barry 'Earn' forgets to mention Sheffield City council pay World Snooker well over £3 million pounds a year, just to host the tournament.

[@zbigniewczaykowski514]

The Saudis will pay ten times that and more.

[@harrypell2603]

@@zbigniewczaykowski514 Fucking rich bastards 😡

[@marklittlewood2919]

They no doubt would and destroy this wonderful game as we know it

[@Nico-qt4qz]

​@@zbigniewczaykowski514Then they can create their own tournament with a Golden Ball......oh hang on.😅

[@CHANDRASEKHARPUPPALA-ci4qy]

@@Nico-qt4qz its better to have WSC in India. More crowds. Sheffield is a boring place.

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

So the crucible has 900+ audience and he's going to sell 5x that in saudi for... "the fans"? I'm sure all those people who missed out on sheffield tickets will just get a plane to asia pal

[@nickflaskett257]

Honestly, the logic behind that statement was baffling.

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

But the Chinese masters gets 10k and goes up every year...😂

[@TriggLu]

​@@HeWhoDaresEhDelyes and most of the crowd watch on a large TV screen because you can't see what's going on a snooker table from so far away .

[@alecspyrou2134]

​@@TriggLuthat's like saying nobody goes to baseball, cricket, basketball because of the size of the stadium. It's invidious not true

[@paulflewitt5599]

And while Barrie Hearn is talking about what the sport does for Sheffield, he forgets that NOBODY wanted snooker in 1977. Without Sheffield, snooker wouldnt be where it is today.

[@marklittlewood2919]

Exactly

[@simonjameshillier777]

You build it then Barry! Matchroom has more than enough money in the bank.

[@alecspyrou2134]

They are a sports organisation not into real estate. It's like asking the premier league to build football stadiums

[@snookeringu2tonightu231]

I thought he had retired? Me, I, me, me. Build me a venue. Me me, I, me.

[@davidbrown9947]

10x bigger prize money lol, joker. Matchroom will keep most of the money. Not much money will trickle down to the players, rest assured.

[@rockface901]

Sheffield City Council have since issued a response, following Hearn's comments. Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield is the home of snooker. The World Snooker Championships and Sheffield go hand in hand. “We know what the tournament means to the people of Sheffield, the players that come to compete and all the fans that watch the tournament across the globe. We have created a sporting legacy here in the city and we want that to continue for generations to come. “We are in regular contact with World Snooker Tour and meet with them before, during and after each tournament and we will continue doing so

[@rockface901]

so in short , Hearn is full of shit

[@gordoncockfield]

"p s. It's going to Saudi"

[@harrypell2603]

@@rockface901 Yep 👍

[@fatcontrole1]

Course she would say that. She can't offer anything other than heritage, and scared they will lose their cash cow. As much as I don't like the idea Barry is right. What player would turn down 10x prize money just to stay at the crucible?

[@stewartmcrae8007]

@@rockface901 no their words are empty and meaningless instead of talk lets see some action build a new venue if snooker is part of Sheffield like they say then walk the walk instead talking the talk get your chequebook out and start giving Mr O'sullivan Trump Selby Higgins Williams and the rest loads of cash otherwise it's off to Riyadh or Beijing or whoever is the highest bidder

[@Voltanaut]

If Wimbledon can remain the home of snooker and Lords can remain the home of cricket (correct me if I'm wrong), the Crucible should remain the home of snooker's world championship. Edit: same with St Andrew's being the home of golf.

[@stephenduckham9736]

I'd love to see Ronnie play on Centre Court 😀 (Don't you dare edit your post 😅😅😅)

[@Dystopianutopiabuilds]

Wimbledon is not the world championship of tennis though is it? And they expand and improve Wimbledon as time goes on.

[@roadtonowhere497]

It took many years for Wimbledon to get a roof,so many years lost to rain​@@Dystopianutopiabuilds

[@gordoncockfield]

​@@Dystopianutopiabuildspop a closing roof on it 😂

[@Dystopianutopiabuilds]

@@gordoncockfield Sheffield could easily have made plans to adapt or build somewhere suitable for the world championship and wst has been telling them for years something needs to change but they have done nothing. There's not a lot ou can do about that really.

[@eugenecartwright4390]

Barry Hearn, money 💰 is my life. 😂

[@ruleyramundo]

Immortal Money 💰

[@slottyken]

Barry Hearn gives almost exactly the opposite answer to the one he gave last time he was asked.

[@yannick9473]

Money is not everything and it's morally incorrect to sell England off as the home of snooker when it comes to the WCS. If money is the reason behind it, then what happens if another country puts in a bigger bid than Saudi Arabia like China for example, so you could end moving to many different countries to host WCS, but not in England. Furthermore, what does Saudi arabia know about snooker?

[@therebel4332]

Saudi knows nothing about any sport,, its nothing more than a nice little desert hole to have their little get togethers without being disturbed.

[@jamiepr1991]

It knows snookers a money spinner and will be of use to cover up their appalling human rights record by sportwashing

[@alecspyrou2134]

So build a larger stadium in Sheffield! Not happening. When the contract ends so will the world championships at the Crucible

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

Anybody else listen to this and just find it crazy that one man is controlling the whole of professional snooker and he's just talking so frivolously about money as if the prestige and heritage of snooker itself isn't weighing on his rash decisions

[@AndyMcLaren100]

Snooker is dying in the UK and Barry Hearn knows that. Eddie Hearn wants nothing to do with the sport and it's clear Barry Hearn wants to make preparations for that. Boxing and Darts is the priority for Eddie Hearn who is the future of that company. Darts is growing more than 10x the rate of snooker is around the world

[@MrStewieP]

At least he's being honest. Money does talk.

[@johannbogason1662]

"Money doesn´t talk, it screams" Bob Dylan

[@Andrew-is7rs]

Matchroom is a billion$ company. They can build a purpose made venue in Sheffield tomorrow if they like. He wants to move away and get more £ for Matchroom in events everywhere else.

[@gordoncockfield]

Sure why not have it in Russia get a gas company to sponsor it 👍

[@matthewmorgan748]

Money talks....people walk

[@harrypell2603]

@@johannbogason1662 😂😂😂👍

[@TomMayhew]

He saves snooker's life, but now he's selling its soul.

[@Charlie.c19]

Brilliantly put

[@guillaumek7617]

The money is not in the venue imo. The atmosphere and crowd is. What would a wc look like in saudi or China? It's the tv coverage and advertising sales that should bring in the cash. So Barry is gaslighting here.

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

Oh yes the infamous great crucible great crowd. With such greats chant's as ooh ahhhhh and last but not least come on Ronnie. Come on xyz.... How will that ever be replicated anywhere else 😂

[@Mark-eg2yd]

The Chinese crowds are alright. Saudi events are like funerals

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

@@Mark-eg2yd there's only been one... And there was noise

[@garythomas1919]

Changing the location, that would be sacrilege, I'm not from the UK, I live it the central USA. I grew up playing snooker on 5 foot by 10 foot tables. For me watching how the Crucible effects the players, that's all a part of this tournament. I still have the hope that I can travel to the UK and witness the event is person. Please leave it there.

[@jamesgallagher1992]

Great comment🤘

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

So you make a set up with a huge crowd close to the tables 😂 how hard is that

[@djsteves554]

You better come over by 2027 at the latest as that will probably be the last one at the Crucible

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

@@djsteves554 my mum went this year she could only afford to go to qualifications though because the tickets are so expensive...

[@djsteves554]

@@HeWhoDaresEhDel so she can't afford to buy tickets as it is but she'll be on the first flight to Saudi Arabia? Makes sense

[@26CY]

I am by no means a Barry Hearn fan but you have to see it from his point of view, its not like we don't know what he's like! He's a business man first and foremost and you have to respect that. What he's done for the sport also can't be understated. I respect the fact that he's willing to go 50/50 with the council in Sheffield in terms of building a new venue. I think this is the best option and the council should hold him to it. Everyone wins this way, in my opinion anyways. What does everyone else think?

[@Dystopianutopiabuilds]

I think that a lot of people will moan when it moves but that's just what people do. And it will be mostly older people that only care about how they feel about things and don't really care about the future of the sport or those playing it. The same people that moan about self service checkouts and wilcos going bust. They want the world to be as it was when they were younger and don't like change. It's pathetic really. For me I'd like the wc to move about from country to country like other global sports do it. Make a new ranking event at the crucible to become a 4th crown event to keep the traditionalist old folks happy.

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

How can you respect one man being in charge of such an amazing sport. It should be ran by a body of people who take it seriously

[@williamalberto4284]

I think they should make a bigger place.

[@fatcontrole1]

​@@mrjohnzilla-zx8sjhe's built the sport into what it is today. Was on its arse before he got involved.

[@TriggLu]

What you going to do with a 3,000 seat venue for snooker the rest of the year ?

[@djboswell4325]

this is why footballs bigger.. tried a super league, england teams said no snooker players, more money .. screw the fans im off lol, im a huge snooker fan but money shouldnt always talk

[@harrypell2603]

Exactly 👍

[@Xhenix]

"It's a laaaaandslide 👿👿"

[@user-pe1df5qv2m]

You always see a few empty seats at the Crucible even at the Final,no way would you get 3 thousand every year to attend.

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

They get 10k for the Chinese masters.. 😂

[@nc3music920]

There might be empty seats but theyve been paid for. The crucible is a complete sell out every year. Its very difficult to get tickets. he is right about that

[@YTguySmithy-lk6go]

I can't see the owners of the Crucible knocking down the venue to make it x amount larger just for 17 days of snooker plus the few days of the senior WC. Seems very unlikely. Unless there is a way to keep the existing building and add more room, I doubt the Crucible will be able to keep the WC after the 50th anniversary year in 2027. It would make sense, I guess, to move the event in 2028. A new era.

[@gordoncockfield]

A shit one

[@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj]

There were talks of building a crucible-like snooker focused venue in sheffield...

[@gordoncockfield]

@@mrjohnzilla-zx8sj yeh it was Barry hearn talking shit

[@sullygigarchive]

The most telling point in the interview was that it isn't going to be his decision, it will be his son Eddie's choice, someone who has openly said that they aren't a fan of snooker and has already taken various events to Saudi (boxing / nineball pool) in recent years. This is all Barry trying to save face and knowingly asking a council for something he knows full well (in the real world) given the current budget issues most councils have that they can't achieve by themselves. How many will be desperate for tickets if it moves? They couldn't sell out the invitational tournament they had a few months ago and there is never an atmosphere in the boxing.

[@martinreynolds5905]

they wouldnt even fill a 200 venue in Saudi so his argument is pointless

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

Except that they already did in riyadh first time of asking

[@martinreynolds5905]

@@HeWhoDaresEhDel i watched it - the venue was empty

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

@@martinreynolds5905 so did I there were way over 200 in attendance

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

Do a head count you can count over 100 on one side and another 100 on the head of the table side so your talking bollocks. Type in Eurosport go to world masters of snooker 2024 do a head count on the two sides you can see visibly from the camera then stop talking shit. I'd estimate it had 4-500 in attendance

[@martinreynolds5905]

@@HeWhoDaresEhDel no chance your talking balls, google the sun article you can see empty seats on second row all round venue. max 100 people there, plus the Saudis are disrespectful standing up in the eyeline of the player on shot - not cool

[@drewberry8945]

Change the venue like Eurovision where if the winner is Welsh than play the next year in Cardiff, or Scottish, play in a venue in Edinburgh, ETC. Their are no players from SA playing they should not host in their country , The heart of snooker is in the British Isles it should remain that way. If or even when a Chinese player wins it, then host it there.

[@jimmyk9523]

Hopefully they announce they're leaving and Williams, Higgins, O'Sullivan all announce their retirement

[@guillaumek7617]

Higgins should'v been banned already but i get your point.

[@jamietippett7932]

Well, I would love to see this too just to laugh, and I want the WC to stay in sheffield. But in terms of Ronnie leaving due to it's move, that wouldn't be the cause of him leaving, as he wants the better venues. He will leave because of his own reasons. I could see Williams maybe leaving purely because of the WC move, he is very loyal, and funny as well, always been my fav player for his personality

[@littlejohn2708]

Short term gain for a lot of long term pain for the game of snooker. When a bean counter is in charge this is the kind of result to expect.

[@stephenduckham9736]

Snooker is nearly dead in this country. Youngsters aren't really interested, and the game is thriving in China.

[@ginjaedgy49]

it would thrive more if snooker had more investment in publicity and better exciting matches and venues

[@therebel4332]

Because theyve closed all the snooker halls ffs,, its not hard to know the reason,, theyve ruined social activities up and down this country because of silly rules and regulations,, and the most annoying fooking aspect about it is that the public have let them do it.

[@stephenduckham9736]

@@ginjaedgy49 I don't disagree. Some form of shot clock would be good.

[@stephenzaccardelli5863]

The game itself is fine its the venue it's played in that would make it more appealing worldwide

[@TiredofEarth]

i think moving the championship to a diferent country each year is a fantastic idea.. whats the issue with that?

[@hssahmed]

Are you saying money will buy everything today? What a rubbish statement. I live in Saudi Arabia and I can tell you snooker is not a highly popular sport here. Are you asking true fans to travel the world after the sport? I can not see the logic

[@Mark-eg2yd]

Salam alaikum Ahmed! Best comment on here. There is no shortage of sport in Saudi now so it's not like snooker is a novelty either.. I wouldn't mind seeing it move around the world but only to places where it can sell tickets to fans - England, China, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Thailand and other countries where it can sell tickets and not just invite rich people for the final..

[@MrElusive79]

So we will all be watching the World Snooker final at 4am in the future?

[@J5X7]

You can.

[@slayer5097]

Why? Will it be in America? No. Saudi is 3 hrs ahead only. We'd get an early night lol.

[@MrElusive79]

@@slayer5097 If Saudi, or anyone else for that matter, own the rights, they can put it on at whatever time they want, so it could very well be 4am our time. It was more of a rhetorical question - the point being they'll most likely lose a large portion of the UK viewership if that happens - hypthetically speaking!

[@slayer5097]

I doubt the viewership would be affected at all, in fact it will be on at a better time. Let them run the sport, you can watch it or not.

[@markturner977]

@@slayer5097another sell out - you would let an Arab bum you if the price was right.. 😂

[@owenb1t5014]

Fair play to the presenter/interviewer.. she put it to Barry and handled it well. Some questions he wasn’t so comfortable with.

[@woogieman007]

I can get on board taking it around the world it's The World Championship not the Sheffield Champions. In an ideal world they woud extend the Cruable but then it would lose it's charm. I'm worried about it going to Saudi Arabia there was about 10 people watching the final 😂 China probably the best for venues and fans. Whatever happens The Crucible is the home of snooker and no amount of money will change that title

[@stereoexciter]

"I'm retired...! (But Eddie will do whatever i say so!) But you know, i'm retired"

[@user-xd9yo3le7o]

Snooker's very own Del Boy.. Still living the Thatcherite dream...Don't tell me the World Snooker Championship, will be in Dubai in 2028. Still lining those pockets. No doubt he'll get a knighthood.

[@JB-dp3or]

I reckon the world championship should move around like the Open does in golf, which moves around the Uk and every 5 years I think it is it goes to saint Andrews. So, for example maybe one year the Worlds is at the Crucible, then one year in China then in Saudi, a random country then back to the crucible and so on

[@frankfrank6631]

I agree with this, whys it got to stay in one place?

[@ryanmichael7795]

One thing barry totally neglects in the conversation about moving the crucible to saudi arabia is the fact that the saudis doing all this sports washing as its called to gain influence in other areas. Once certain goals have been met they will throw snooker away in an instant leaving the world championship with no home at all. Last time they had snooker back in the 90s they got bored of it quickly then

[@amac1657]

Part of the reason the world championships is special is due to the small intimate venue. It makes it different from every other large arena they use for most other events. I've been to the crucible many times and it has a wonderful feel to it unlike any other tournament I've been to. It has an exclusive feel something special and we'll lose that if we move to a large venue, even extended the capacity would spoil it. You want to be close to the tables and at the crucible no matter where you sit you get a decent view. It's not Darts where you need to look at the big screen to see what's happening, what's the point? They might as well change the name of the worlds as it will feel like every other venue if this happens.

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

What will happen at this rate is the crucible will stay the same but it will be stripped of the name world championship. Because it's only in name that it is. Crucible classic Sheffield open take your pick. World championships?? Nah mate

[@amac1657]

If it stays the same and Barry takes it else where they won’t give the crucible any event. The point he’s making is it’s too small.

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

@@amac1657 nah they'll get something they'll probably move the Johnstone paint trophy there call it the crucible classic... But you could be right shows how out of date the crucible and Sheffield is if no organisers want the venue if the world champs leave the crucible..

[@IvMrNayfeenvI]

Although I don’t agree they should follow the money, I understand his statement about the player not refusing more money. The money should be distributed fairer for a start since £500,000 to the winner is no where close to the money they make from the event. They’re making far too much profit without giving back fairly to the players who are earning them all that money. He is right though that it’s on Sheffield CIty Council to reach out to WST & make an agreement on a new/improved yearly venue. It can’t be all on the council since it’s 2 weeks of the year & the venue would need to be optimal for other events, however they both should work together to keep the World Championship in Sheffield. Barry knows better than anyone that moving Snooker to Saudi Arabia is the death of snooker in the longer term. However during his life time, it’s by far the best action to take to reap the rewards right now. I like that he’s finally been honest though & stating facts that he’s only bothered about the money not the players, employees of WST or the community. We need more people like Barry who are more open about people not meaning anything anymore 👍🏻

[@stevenwilliams8566]

Would love it to stay but makes no sense turning away so many people who can't get tickets. Other venues evolve and increase capacity, why can't the Crucible? Football teams rebuild or move stadiums, Wimbledon and Lords have transformed over the years. Cherish history but don't live in the past.

[@user-pe1df5qv2m]

The City of Sheffield should build a new snooker stadium

[@matthewelton63]

Sheffield United

[@matthewelton63]

Got the Crucible Theatre 💯 %.

[@blankblank582]

Great idea move it round the world and in each country , china, india, saudi, even america will grow the sport. Kids will discover it and its also fair to players of those countries, no country should own a sport

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

Absolutely correct. Ignore the small minded idiots

[@casinoroyle007]

He’s changed his tack, Sheffield sadly is going,😢

[@stansnape3634]

why cant the crusible be built onto the make it bigger or even built a double story

[@AlonsoRules]

he probably wants to make it a best of 5 too

[@adamweishaupt2846]

That's what i'm fearing the most. Not moving away from Sheffield but the tournament becoming a flat 128 playing best of 7 event. They completely devalued the UK Championship so I really hope the World format doesn't change.

[@andyboyd126]

On my tombstone I’m not having: ‘This is the man that took snooker out of Sheffield’. We can sell tournaments, but we’re not going to let our crown jewels go. It would be letting our soul go." - Barry Hearn 2015 😀

[@josephgledhill9294]

Imagine having the FIFA WORLD CUP in the same stadium, in the same country, every tournament?

[@TheFinalRevelation2]

Barry being nothing but himself. Admire his honesty.

[@captpicard100]

Saudi might well build a 3,000 seater venue for the World Championship but probably less than 10% of those in the crowd would be genuine fans. No way families would book flights, hotels etc etc just to watch a few frames of Snooker.

[@phil9432]

There is a place in hell for people like the Hearns. Their greed has no bounds.

[@stewartmcrae8007]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@nicholasagnew]

i dont care where it goes but please not saudi

[@nickflaskett257]

Agreed. You look at the atmosphere of the Chinese events and it's great, snooker is unbelievably loved over there. Personally I like the intimacy of The Crucible, but the capacity could be better and there is some rose-tinted glasses about the conditions considering they haven't been updated for nearly 50 years so maybe a new venue is needed. But, Barry saying it's on Sheffield to build a new venue rather than Matchroom or WST is a bit of an ask. How do you expect things to get done if you expect handouts rather than getting the job done yourself? But, I digress. You just need to look at the boxing and that joke of a tournment in Riyadh to see how soulless it'll become if it moves to Saudi Arabia. A crowd full of invited celebrities and rich people who just do not care. They may pay the most, but it's all to boost the profile of the higher-ups, not snooker as a sport.

[@SMITH-lw3rv]

That's it going and you know who's offered the money he's never seen before.

[@agr7879]

Don’t leave The iconic Crucible. Money isn’t everything. Barry Hearn said just a couple years back, that on his watch, the World Championship would never leave The Crucible.

[@Jay_Eddo]

Well done to this interviewer stood her ground!

[@casinoroyle007]

3000 seats too large

[@user-mg5er5hq9f]

We went in 2015 to 2018 and prices were 35 to 40 per session. 2019 it went up to 105 per session wtf with going out staying over and all that its too much

[@jamesbarryobrien3514]

Yes ,money dictates all eventually . Players want the money ,like all other players in all other sports , the more money thay can make the better off they are . I agree with Hearn . He knows what he is doing .

[@aviationphan1847]

What he doesn't understand is that the crucible is the star of the tournament in a way - thats where the atmosphere comes ftom. You don't get that in 3000 seater venue.

[@tonyjones2101]

Mmm, interesting interview think you touched a nerve a Rachel, seems rattled Mr. Hearn, somethings clearly is going on here. The more I have, the more important a person I am, that's incorrect. Success isn't measured by things, what you have, earn, or even do. . . Serve others firstly let that define you, that's how you truly prosper & become forefilled.

[@damianleah6744]

Snooker like any other sport is a business and it has to move forward. It’s not that long ago when there was only 6-7 tournaments a year. Sheffield is too small.

[@BobbyDaz]

Black Book Barry 😈😈

[@paulflewitt5599]

Let go of the Crucible and you lose more than just the history. You lose the single most unique challenge in the sport, and a venue which creates iconic moments. Leave the Crucible and you lose prestige, bit it also becomes just another event on the calendar.

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

Thank you so much for this great interview. 👍

[@Richbecks1]

Different venue every year would be good

[@nc3music920]

It would be a disaster

[@gurdeepchumber2764]

The thing is the crucible is simply not big enough & facilities are outdated, Barry will just go where the money is & so Will the players, Wimbledon,lords etc are historic venue's & have been modernised over the year's but the crucible just hasn't,they could move world championship & have the TOUR championship at Sheffield but it still won't be big enough 😢

[@HeWhoDaresEhDel]

If it was to stay at Sheffield the council would have to build a custom arena for it. I'm thinking a three tiered cue ball shaped arena so you take what they have already with the crucible add a second tier a bit wider seating around 1400 and top tier seating around 5-700. Most expensive seats are bottom tier as they are now middle tier mid range 5-70£ and top tier is the cheapest 30-40£ a session or less you put tvs hanging from the ceiling in the middle. Amd mirrors all around as well as one at the top in the ceiling

[@jjdebruyne]

Can you imagine getting an atmosphere like tonight (Allen and Higgins) if it was moved to Saudi Arabia??

[@thesmithsnerd]

What happened to just going where the history is, where the heritage is, where the fans want. I get it’s a job, I get players gotta earn. But what’s the prize money for winning the worlds, £500k? I mean, how much does one person need? You should earn your corn, it shouldn’t come easy, you should get rewarded massive for winning, not just taking part. I could live for 30-40 years on £500k. There’s enough money in the game as it is. Greed don’t sit well with me

[@guitarreilly]

500k but to win the world championship takes 8 hours practice a day for decades. Why put in all that time when in other sports you can make that in a month

[@jumpa654]

There's some football players that earn close to 500k a week! The snooker players deserve to be rewarded financially, and it's important to attract young people to Snooker. Young players are the future of the sport. Get with the times.

[@underdirect1745]

No you couldn't. 500,000/35 is 14.2k on average. 14k probably wouldn't even cover a years worth of expenses on tour. Your opinion was valid until you started talking rubbish.

[@ginjaedgy49]

500k is chump change for a pro sport player footballers make 10x-20x that a year

[@underdirect1745]

Forgot to add, you don't even get 500k once tax is paid which makes your point even less valid.

[@TheFinalRevelation2]

Snooker has always been run by gangsters, criminals and patronized by the saints of the underworld. Now that snooker is an international sport, it must admit the really big global guns

[@LycraLout]

I don't have a problem with what he's saying. The game is growing. Venues and prize funds need to grow to match. If Sheffield can make the Crucible bigger, then I reckon it'll stay. It's not a ransom. I'd like it to stay. Went quite a few times in the 80s. But 850 capacity for the apex tournament in any sport is too small.

[@user-pe1df5qv2m]

When Ronnie retires snooker will never be the same

[@zbigniewczaykowski514]

Yes , imagine winning that first tournament after he retires, you know what everyone is going to say.

[@AuroraBorealis11111]

I can’t wait to not hear his whinging 😂

[@ToleVerban]

It will be the best thing to ever happen to the sport!

[@stephenlewis195]

Barry Hearn is a business man he’s looking at the bigger picture , he says he’s retired but he’s not if there is a £1 to be made off a penny he’s there.

[@terrydonnelly7930]

Where are the official records to show that x amount of people miss out on the crucible? Is there a 'waiting list'? Or is this just all speculation and guesswork?

[@kevinberry125]

TAKEING SHOOKER OUT OF SEIFFIED IS LIKE TAKEING TENNIS OUT OF WIMBIEDON

[@videosmurf]

I noticed the ppl standing up just when Higgins was about to pot in the latest Saudi tournament. Really big fan base there. Atmosphere will be magic😂

[@biswapokhrel9836]

They should absolutely move world snooker around the world better for the players( obviously big winning money) and spectators around the world

[@Walker1152]

If they want the big money then have the extra tournament like they have done with the golden. Which is another topic altogether but in my opinion the world championship is as special as it is because of how intimate the venue is and how close you can be to the action. I also think with it being a smaller venue it is easier to kick out the undesirables that shout out when a player is down on a shot. Im sure Joe Davis would have a very different opinion to Barry Hearn. I know how hard it is to get tickets as me, my dad and many friends go through the process every year. I've never been able to purchase tickets for the final due to not been able to afford it but have always had a chance to purchase them. If you do your research and are willing to get on the phone and wait to purchase the tickets when they come on sale im sure you can get a ticket. Money is ruining many sports please don't let it ruin snooker.

[@marttismusic]

I agree , send it around the world each year , would have more variety and yes all players will go where the prize money is, it’s simple business sense.

[@callumhughes6448]

If the world championship moves from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield it will be a death sentence for the sport.

[@leeadams995]

The world championship is synonymous with the Crucible theatre. Frankly, it just won't matter as much if it is held elsewhere. It would be like staging The Masters somewhere other than Augusta National. You would have 'technically' won the masters, but not really.