WPBSA ponder axing Crucible for China

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Oct 18:50:00 2008

The World Snooker Championship could be taken to China from 2011 to exploit the country's exploding market for the sport, according to the head of the game's governing body.

SNOOKER 2006-2007 World Championship crucible theatre sheffield - 0

Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has revealed he was approached for talks about a possible switch in venue during last week's Shanghai Masters.

The WPBSA has a contract with Sheffield City Council to stage snooker's most important tournament at the Crucible - its home for 31 years - until 2010.

But after that point the World Championship could be taken to China to reap the benefits of snooker's huge popularity there - including increased sponsorship revenue, greater global coverage and bigger attendances.

"During the Roewe Shanghai Masters I was approached about the prospect of moving the World Championship to China," Walker told the Daily Mail.

"The momentum of snooker in China is growing and this is not the first time the matter has been raised there, although discussions are at a very early stage.

"We have a contract with Sheffield City Council which has two years to run, but beyond that we have to evaluate all options available to us and decide what is best for our members."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 4 of 4

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  1. moving to china, will rouine snooker for the english, heard of the saying if its not broke, dont fix it.

    From STEPHEN, on Tue 25 Nov 7:22PM

  2. "...increased sponsorship revenue, greater global coverage and bigger attendances." Really? Bigger Attendances and a greater globar coverage?
    That's weird. Nothing bad about China, but I think WSC should stay at the Crucible.

    From Tomislav, on Thu 9 Oct 12:34PM

  3. No!
    i want snooker to stay at his home... at UK!
    i come from Greece end is more easy to me(an other Europeans of cource) to travel to England! end cheaper!
    i have seen to many world championships , and the atmosphaire is cool!

    From pilotas91, on Wed 8 Oct 3:48PM

  4. If it's a one-off than I don't mind, but if this is a permanent fixture, I'd be against it. It'd be a shame to lose one of our sporting gems to an overseas country.

    From Mickey Caskill, on Wed 8 Oct 2:00PM
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