Mark Selby urges bosses to keep World Championship at Crucible as Qatar show interest in hosting

Mark Selby has instructed snooker chiefs to keep the World Championship at the Crucible – after generating one of the vital biggest moments the previous theatre has ever observed.

World Snooker Tour president Barry Hearn printed ultimate week that Qatar had expressed an enchanting hosting the showpiece event when its contract with the Sheffield venue expires in 2027.

But Selby hopes the game’s bosses face up to a transfer clear of the Crucible, having been served some other reminder of its particular surroundings when he hit the primary ever most in an international ultimate towards Luca Brecel.

‘Hopefully it stays here for years to come,’ stated the 39-year-old, who gained a protracted status ovation after his 147 on Sunday night time. ‘I have been reading that Qatar might be coming in, but it’s this type of particular venue.

‘You are out there twitching all over the place. Any other venue, it doesn’t appear to do this for you, however that’s the Crucible itself. It’s no longer the largest venue we play in nevertheless it’s no doubt the most productive.’

The World Championship has been held at the Crucible since 1977. But with a capability of simply 980, there were calls to take the development to a bigger venue – both by way of construction a larger enviornment in Sheffield or by way of shifting town or nation.

Mark Selby has instructed snooker bosses to keep the World Championship at the Crucible

It comes as the historical venue’s contract to host the event is due to expire in 2027

Barry Hearn printed ultimate week that representatives from Qatar have been willing to host the development

Hearn, who stood down as WST chairman two years in the past, stated ultimate week: ‘The debate goes on. 980 seats. The Qataris said to me the other week, “What year does that World Snooker contract run out with Sheffield?”. I said, “It’s 2027-28”. They answered, “Can we be in consideration? Can we have a say in it?”.

‘They don’t have a snooker background nevertheless it’s, “If you want to do a nice big event, we will put you in the mix”. Who is aware of what goes to occur.’

Mail Sport ultimate yr disclosed an offer from Etihad Stadium architect James Burland to increase a brand new 3,000-seat enviornment in Sheffield, however the ones plans aren’t any additional ahead.

Hearn expressed his sadness with a loss of motion from Sheffield City Council. ‘I have told them what they have got to do,’ he stated. ‘I haven’t observed an excessive amount of task in that approach.’

However, a World Snooker Tour spokesperson stated: ‘We recently had a positive meeting with Sheffield City Council.

Fans have flocked to the Sheffield venue all week to catch some of the enthralling action 

Artist Damien Hirst was also seen at the Sheffield venue carrying Ronnie O’Sullivan’s cue into the arena

Selby made history this weekend making the first maximum in the final at the tournament

‘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.

‘We are always looking at ways to make tournaments bigger and better. We are a developing sport and we’re occupied with using snooker ahead.

‘As part of that we want as many snooker fans as possible to be able to come and enjoy the World Championship, the pinnacle of our calendar.’

Kate Martin, govt director of Sheffield City Council, added: ‘We look forward to many more successful World Snooker Championships here over the coming years.’