Snooker World Championship to stay in Sheffield

Snooker's World Championship is to stay in Sheffield until 2014 after an extension to the existing contract was announced today.

The tournament has been staged at the city's Crucible theatre since 1977, but Chinese officials are keen to take it to the Far East.

World Snooker's deal with the Sheffield authorities had been due to expire after next year's event. However it was confirmed at a press conference this afternoon that a three-year extension has been agreed.