Qatar interested in hosting World Snooker Championship after Crucible

According to Barry Hearn, Qatar is interested in hosting the World Snooker Championship when Crucible’s deal to host the event expires in 2027.

After hosting the football World Cup last year, there is a chance that the Middle Eastern country will welcome snooker’s blue-riband event in the future.

Hearn, the former chairman of World Snooker, always maintained that the tournament would never leave Sheffield as long as he was in charge.

The Crucible has been the venue since 1977 and is loved by snooker fans, but the 980 seat capacity is limited.

Hearn hinted that his son Eddie, who now runs Matchroom, may have a different take on the sport when he sent a message to authorities in Sheffield.

The Crucible Theater in Sheffield has hosted the blue-riband snooker event since 1977

Barry Hearn (left) has revealed the Qataris want to be considered to host the event, with the decision falling to his son Eddie (right), who runs Matchroom

“Take the Crucible – the debate continues,” he told the Daily telegram. ‘980 seats. I’m getting closer to Saudis at tournaments.

“Qatar said to me last week, ‘What year does that World Snooker contract with Sheffield expire?’ They asked me.

“I said, ‘It’s 2027-28.’ They replied, “Can we be considered? Can we say something about it?”

“They don’t have a snooker background. But it’s “if you want to do a nice big event, then we’ll put you in the mix.”

‘Who knows what will happen. I mean, I told them [Sheffield] what they should do. I haven’t seen too much activity that way.

“We are part of Sheffield’s development plan. But again, I need a little more juice on it.

“I live in a world where people talk about things. In the world I like to work in, it’s where people do things. They’re in that process, I’m not criticizing them. Let’s hope it comes.

‘We are in 2023. They have four to five years. But I don’t want it to be a decision that will be made in four or five years.

Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup last year, despite its small size and population

The Crucible is limited by its capacity of just 980 seats, with Hearn strongly stating the need for a larger venue if the tournament is to remain in Sheffield.

‘I’m a Sheffield fan, I want to stay here. But maybe it’s not my decision. We’ll… it’s not. I am the non-executive president.”

Hearn Snr said his son ‘is not a snooker fan’ but is ‘focused on global growth’.

Qatar was the controversial choice to host last year’s World Cup over concerns over human rights and the treatment of migrant workers who built stadiums and infrastructure for the tournament.

The country hopes to use its experience hosting that tournament to bid for the Olympic Games in 2036. A joint bid with neighboring Saudi Arabia is also possible.