Barry Hearn and Ronnie O’Sullivan are among those who are calling for the World Snooker Championships to change location, after being held at Sheffield’s Crucible for 48 consecutive years, reports Esmé Kenney.

The tournament will take place between 20 April and 6 May, and the winner will receive £500,000, out of a total prize fund of £2,395,000.

Sports promoter Barry Hearn has argued to City Council that a larger venue should be built to ensure the event stays in the city.

Shabnam Younus-Jewell, the BBC’s Snooker Correspondent, said: “As soon as you think you mention the World Championship you think of Sheffield, and you think of that iconic Crucible Theatre. It’s got a wonderful history and there are so many people who think it’s the whole home of snooker. People come from all around the world to come to the Crucible.

“From a business point of view. it doesn’t really make sense to have the world championship of a sport in a venue that has less than a thousand seats.”