“We Will Definitely See It” - Barry Hearn Backs £1m Snooker World Champion

Snooker’s most iconic stage is here to stay.

The World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050, following a landmark agreement between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council.

As part of the long-term vision, plans are underway for a £45million redevelopment of the venue. The transformation could see up to 500 additional seats added in an ‘in the round’ format, alongside major improvements to spectator facilities.

The tournament will continue in its current format at the Crucible until 2028, before temporarily relocating during redevelopment, with the intention of returning to a modernised, expanded venue.

First staged at the Crucible in 1977, the championship will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the famous theatre next year, making this new deal a significant milestone in the sport’s history.

Prize Money Debate Intensifies

With expansion on the horizon, attention has quickly turned to prize money, and how snooker compares to its closest counterpart.

The World Darts Championship, driven by booming popularity, recently offered a £1million top prize, won by teenage sensation Luke Littler.

By contrast, this year’s World Snooker Championship, running from April 18 to May 4, will see 32 players compete for a £500,000 winner’s cheque.

Hearn: “We Will Definitely See It”

Speaking at the Crucible yesterday, Matchroom founder and president Barry Hearn is confident that snooker will eventually reach that seven-figure milestone.

“Yes, we will. We will definitely see it. But it will take a little while,” Hearn said when asked if we’ll ever see a one-million-pound world snooker champion.

“It’s very difficult to compare darts and snooker. Darts has been something that in my 50 years I’ve never seen anything like. And the rights fees for things from TV are far bigger than any other sport.”

“Bigger than any other sport because most rights fees are going down. Ours are going up: 300%, 250% around the world. So, they’ve got it now.” 

A Plan for Rapid Growth

While darts may be ahead of the curve, Hearn insists snooker is moving in the same direction, and that plans are already in motion to accelerate growth.

“But snooker is on that (curve). And I think this deal inspires me to think, well, we’ve got to get to that. We’ve got to get to that. We won’t get to it in one jump. But I think we’ll have some sort of plan in a few weeks’ time to be able to share with you during the Crucible.”

“So, it looks to me like the blue-riband events are so institutionally acceptable now. BBC coverage around the world, massive Chinese coverage on CCTV, big ticket sales, massive, massive events. Those prize money’s have got now to start being pushed up rapidly.”

No Rush to Expand the Field

Despite the venue expansion, the tournament format itself is unlikely to change anytime soon.

The Crucible has hosted a 32-player field since 1982, and Hearn sees no immediate need to alter a winning formula, prioritising financial growth instead.

“I think if something is not broken, don’t fix it. The only thing that needs to change with this tournament is we need to be better, at World Snooker, in raising more money, getting more dollars for our bang, and making sure the prize money goes as quickly as possible up to a minimum of £5million.”

Unlocking Snooker’s Global Potential

For Hearn, the long-term future of the sport lies not just in events, but in maximising its global commercial appeal.

“And then, who knows? If we do it right, then this new involvement in China is creating so many opportunities for snooker’s IP. Not just events, but things like cues and accessories, clothing ranges, health drinks. It’s time for us now to take our brand, and our IP value, and get that wonderful thing I love better than anything else in the world, making money when you’re asleep,” Hearn concluded.