Exclusive:Prime Minister set to commit funding to keep World Snooker in Sheffield
It’s a case of “when and not if” the Prime Minister steps in to keep World Snooker at The Crucible, The Star has been told.
A source close to the discussions said it was “obvious” the PM wanted to retain the championships in Sheffield after a contract to host it expires next year.
And government funding will be part of any deal.
The update comes after Sir Keir Starmer last month made a surprise visit to The Crucible to discuss the future of the tournament with council chiefs and local partners.
At the time a No10 spokesperson said the PM was passionate about protecting snooker in Sheffield.
In an update, a source said: “The negotiations are clearly gathering pace. The Prime Minister’s appearance at the Crucible in Sheffield has given this exciting momentum and we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of his involvement.
"We need concrete action next, but the roundtable discussion showed he was engaged and pretty well informed about what this would mean for the city, for the sport and for the arts.
“He obviously wants it to happen and he was selling the idea to those in attendance. It’s now a case of when and not if. These are encouraging times for the city.”
Council chiefs are battling to keep World Snooker in Sheffield.
The Crucible has been the home of the annual contest since 1977, but a contract to stage it runs out next year.
World Snooker Tour is the commercial operator of the championships. It is 51 per cent owned by Matchroom sport.
Barry Hearn is the former boss of World Snooker Tour and president of Matchroom Sport.
He has not commented on the Prime Minister’s involvement.
Last year, 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. And government assistance was essential to make it work.
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.”