Exclusive:No10 issues statement on World Snooker after Prime Minister makes surprise visit to Sheffield
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was passionate about protecting World Snooker at The Crucible after a surprise visit to Sheffield.
The PM was spotted entering the theatre with advisers on Thursday afternoon, amid a big police presence in the area.
It is believed he spent an hour with representatives of Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Theatres and local partners.
The unprecedented visit comes as council chiefs battle to keep the contest in the city.
The Crucible has been the home of the annual contest since 1977, but a contract to stage the event runs out next year.
A No10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister is passionate about protecting our sporting and cultural institutions - and this includes the Crucible in Sheffield, which has hosted the World Snooker Championship for 50 years.”
In May last year, snooker supremo Barry Hearn met council leader Tom Hunt and chief executive Kate Josephs to discuss a deal.
Afterwards he said government assistance was essential to make it work.
He said he wanted £1m prize money to rival darts and warned Saudi Arabia was a serious alternative if the Crucible couldn’t keep up financially.
At the time he said: “This is something where Sheffield can only go so far, but with government assistance it can go further, and it can be maintained.
“So, the onus is still on Sheffield to come up with something in line with our thinking.
“This is a major event in England and yet the prize money is nowhere near where I want it to be. So, everyone understands each other's problems.
“Fingers crossed the government understands the significance of this event remaining in the UK and remaining in Sheffield.”
World Snooker Tour is the commercial operator of the championships. It is 51 per cent owned by Matchroom sport.
Mr Hearn is the former boss of World Snooker Tour and president of Matchroom Sport.
Previously he said the facilities and capacity at the Crucible were “not fit for purpose” and continuing to hold the contest there was letting many people down.
He said he wanted 3,000 people watching per session - the Crucible has 980-seat capacity - and prize money similar to darts.