Barry Hearn warns Crucible exit for World Snooker Championship could be ON as he says 'it's all about the money'

Barry Hearn has issued a stark warning to Sheffield City Council regarding the future of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

And he says that unless the venue is demolished and replaced with a larger one, its days as host could be over after the current contract ends in 2027. The snooker supremo, who previously chaired World Snooker and now presides over Matchroom, made it clear that nostalgia won't play a part in the decision-making process, emphasising 'it's all about the money.'

Ronnie O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, had earlier sparked debate about the future of the iconic venue by suggesting that relocating the championship to Saudi Arabia or China could be more lucrative. In a separate incident, Hossein Vafaei criticised the conditions at the Crucible, describing it as "smelly" and likening the practice facilities to a garage, following his first-round defeat to Judd Trump.

Speaking to the BBC, Hearn expressed his commitment to keeping the event in Sheffield, saying: "I am doing absolutely everything I can to stay in Sheffield and it takes two to tango I'll stay here while we're wanted, and I think we're wanted."

However, he stressed the need for realism from the city council, pointing out: "But they've got to be realistic. We've said for the last few years we need a new venue that seats 2,500 to 3,000 people."

Hearn concluded with an ultimatum: "I'm looking for Sheffield to come to the party and if they do, we're staying. If they don't, they're really saying that we don't want to, so it's not really my call."

Saudi Arabia's burgeoning interest in snooker is set to shake up the sport, with plans for the kingdom to host its first ranking tournament next season. The World Masters of Snooker is