QATAR are considering a stunning bid to host the World Snooker Championship later this decade.
Sheffield City Council is contracted to stage snooker’s premier event until at least 2027.
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That represents the 50th anniversary of the first ever Crucible showpiece and the centenary of the first event in Birmingham won by Joe Davis.
Yet months after they held a successful World Cup Finals, sports bosses in the desert have expressed interest in the action on the baize.
The revelation came from Barry Hearn, who stood down as chairman of the World Snooker Tour two years ago but remains influential in his role as company president.
Hearn, 74, said: “The Qataris said to me the other week: ‘What year does that World Snooker contract run out with Sheffield?’
“They asked me. I said: ‘It’s 2027-28.’ They replied: ‘Can we be in consideration? Can we have a say in it?’
“They don’t really have a snooker background. But if you want to do a nice big event first we will put you in the mix. Who knows what is going to happen.”
World Snooker Tour are in “ongoing discussion” with councillors in the Steel City about the future of the worlds, which are held in this 980-seater theatre.
They say there are no plans to move away from South Yorkshire as they discuss plans for this showpiece tournament.
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A spokesperson for the World Snooker Tour said: “We recently had a positive meeting with Sheffield City Council.
“We have four more years to run on the current agreement and it will be an ongoing discussion with Sheffield over that period.
“We love the city, the players and fans love it, and of course we have incredible history here.”
Uprooting the Worlds from its spiritual home would be a significant change and loyal fans are likely to be in uproar about changing their annual pilgrimage.
Yet boxing supremo Eddie Hearn, 43, now runs the Matchroom company instead of his father and money will always talk in business.
Hearn, who managed Steve Davis’s six world triumphs in the 1980s, had previously said the event would never move while he is in charge but maybe the landscape and mindset is slowing changing.
The Essex businessman continued: “I live in a world of people talking about things. In the world I like to operate in, it’s where people do things.
“I’m not criticising Sheffield there. We are in 2023. They have 4-5 years.
“But I don’t want it to be a decision made in four or five years. And then have 3-4 more years during development.
“I’m a Sheffield fan. I want to stay here. But it might not be my decision.
“I’m the president, non-executive, so I don’t really have any power – other than they will still do what I tell them to do!
“Eddie is the main man. He’s not a snooker fan. He likes it but you know…He has come off the board of World Snooker because we’re focusing on more global growth.
“I know I have the right team running snooker. I’m relaxed as much as I can be.”
The inaugural 128-player Saudi Masters – which never took place in Riyadh due to the impact of Covid pandemic – could happen next year.
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