World Championship may leave Crucible

The days of World Championship snooker being staged at The Crucible Theatre could be numbered after more than a quarter of a century.

Former World Snooker board member Jim Chambers has revealed that discussions have taken place at board level about the possibility of eventually moving the tournament overseas.

It has been taken abroad on three previous occasions – South Africa in 1966 and then twice to Australia in the 1970s.

Sheffield has been the home for world snooker’s premier event since 1977 when Embassy (Imperial Tobacco) began their lengthy sponsorship deal.

But the contract to hold the tournament at the sport’s most famous venue runs out in 2005 at the same time as the Embassy deal has to end because of British government legislation regarding tobacco advertising.

Chambers said: “All the players will probably scream at the thought of leaving the Crucible. They no doubt will want to stay there.”