Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy and other top snooker stars react to landmark Crucible deal as World Championship stays in Sheffield

There had been uncertainty over the future of the beloved venue, which has hosted snooker's biggest event since 1977.

Terms on the previous deal were due to expire in 2027, with no assurances over where the tournament could be played following the 50th anniversary and in the backdrop of an increasing number of events taking place in the Middle East and China.

The World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council’s deal also includes an option to extend until 2050. 

Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn was involved in the negotiations and had been vocal about the need for the Crucible to be revamped, and his wish will come true, with the venue set to undergo renovations, including a capacity increase with up to 500 seats added.

The Sheffield arena is hugely popular among both players and fans, and world No. 1 Judd Trump expressed his delight to TNT Sports not only about the tournament staying put, but also the plans to give snooker's home a face-lift.

"It’s great for snooker," Trump said. "It would’ve been a shame if it had left the Crucible.

"And I’m glad they also understand there needs to be an improvement at the same time, and they’re willing to do that. It’s nice to have the backing for the government and people higher up to know how important Sheffield is for snooker and vice versa."

Neil Robertson has experienced the unbridled joy of winning snooker's ultimate prize in the legendary venue, and he said taking snooker away from its home was something that could not be allowed to happen.

"You want it to stay here, the home of snooker, where it belongs," Robertson said. "You can’t take the cricket out of Lord’s, you can’t take Wimbledon out of Wimbledon. You can't do that."

It was a sentiment echoed by Mark Selby: "Sheffield is like the home of snooker, like Wembley is to football. I’m happy it stayed there and can’t wait to go back and give it another crack."

Four-time world champion John Higgins, meanwhile, said he was stunned by the news that the future of the venue had been secured.

"I was flabbergasted, I really did think it might have been moving," Higgins said. "I really thought 2027 might be the year it’s moving, the 50th year we’ve played there, I thought that might have been the swansong, so every credit to everybody involved that managed to make it happen."

Shaun Murphy stunned the snooker world - and upset the odds considerably - when he claimed the world title aged 22 in 2005. With stories such as his, the Crucible will always hold a special place, and he was overjoyed by the news.

"I was genuinely happy, like a kid at Christmas, to know that our future is secured at the Crucible," Murphy said. "I get to go there for the rest of my life - delighted."

And Barry Hawkins, hunting his maiden Crucible crown, hopes the plans to revamp the arena will match the demand.

"Snooker deserves to have an unbelievable venue, especially for the biggest tournament we’ve got," he said. "To make the game bigger and better, you need a big venue, and for it to sell out as well. They can sell that two, three, four times over. Tickets are so hard to come by. The bigger, the better."

Matchroom president Hearn had been candid about the future of snooker at the Crucible had plans for renovation not been approved, while also telling TNT Sports about the enticing money offered to host the competition at other events.

But TNT Sports snooker expert and commentator Neal Foulds felt Hearn ultimately played a "good game of poker" to secure the best-possible future for the sport.

"Barry Hearn has done us proud in the end, he was playing good game of poker, trying to get everything right and on his terms," Foulds said. "The Crucible is going to be made bigger, it’s going to stay in Sheffield, and it’s great for the city because really it’s the lifeblood of Sheffield, snooker in April and May."

Six-time World Championship finalist Jimmy White added: "I’m absolutely delighted. Some of these new players turning professional have never played at the Crucible, that experience of playing on the one-table set-up.

"Barry Hearn will be delighted it’s staying here, all the players are. Snooker has been very good to Sheffield, and Sheffield has been very good to snooker.

"Some things can’t be bought, like boxing in Madison Square Garden, and Wimbledon to tennis. I’m glad snooker’s staying here."

You can watch every day of the World Championship live on TNT Sports.

It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.