Jimmy White likens Crucible to Wimbledon as World Snooker Championship to stay at iconic Sheffield venue until 2045 - 'Some things can't be moved'
Updated 24/03/2026 at 20:17 GMT
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It was announced on Tuesday that the World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible in Sheffield until 2045 and the venue will be renovated to increase its capacity of 980. Snooker legend Jimmy White is "really excited" by the news, comparing it to Centre Court at Wimbledon, and adding that both current and future players will be overjoyed with the announcement.
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Snooker legend Jimmy White said he was ”absolutely delighted” that the World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible in Sheffield following a landmark announcement on Tuesday.
It was announced by the World Snooker Tour (WST) that the tournament will remain at the famous venue until 2045, with an option to extend until 2050.
The Crucible will also be renovated as part of the new deal to increase the capacity for the tournament.
Six-time Crucible finalist White said the announcement was extremely pleasing news for snooker.
”Some things in this world can’t be bought. People who have played in the Crucible, when it gets to a one-table situation, it’s the best atmosphere to play snooker,” White told TNT Sports.
”It’s a very small venue but you’re very close to it and it’s the World Championship. Sheffield has been good to snooker and snooker’s been good to Sheffield. So the thought of it going to other places was quite scary, so the news today, I’m absolutely delighted.
"And they’re going to extend it. [President of Matchroom Sport] Barry Hearn always said he wants to keep it in Sheffield but they need to make it more seats. Together, they got over the line so we’re going to see it at the Crucible for the next 25 years.”
The World Championship is seen as the pinnacle of snooker and the most prestigious tournament in the sport.
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In 2027, it is scheduled to celebrate its 50th anniversary of being held at the Crucible. But with more and more lucrative ranking events being hosted in the Middle East and in Asia, and the previous deal set to expire in 2027, questions over its future had been raised.
Those have now been put to bed, with the tournament’s long-term home cemented in Yorkshire.
And White believes this will be beneficial to not just current players, but also the next generation.
”It’s like tennis at Wimbledon; certain things can’t be moved. These players will appreciate it,” White added. ”These new players coming through who have never played at the Crucible, to come through that curtain...
”Barry Hearn, I should imagine, he’s absolutely delighted that they’re going to extend it and make it more modern. They’re going to close it for one year. I’d like to know where it’s going to go for one year when it's being renovated. But I’m very excited.”
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White knows what he is talking about when it comes to playing at the Crucible, having featured at the main draw of the World Championship many times over his illustrious career.
He was defeated four times in world finals by Stephen Hendry, with Steve Davis and John Parrott denying him on the other two occasions.
And he described the unique set-up at the Crucible – with the early rounds being held on two tables in the same room before going down to one table from the semi-finals onwards – as being ”intimidating” and likened it to ”Centre Court at Wimbledon".
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”It can be quite daunting sometimes. If you make it to the semi-final, it becomes a one-table situation and then it all changes. Then it becomes the most iconic venue to play in, so that’s what you have to do. You have to get through those first four rounds to get to this one-table set-up," said White.
”It’s built for snooker. That atmosphere, the tension of playing in the World Championships, everything’s so close to you but at the same time, when it goes from two tables to one table, in that atmosphere you can show off your skills.
"It’s like Centre Court at Wimbledon. You’re in the intimate pit to play snooker.”
This year’s tournament begins on April 18 with the final on May 3-4.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports.
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