The World Snooker Championship is well underway but much of the conversation around this competition is about the venue itself - and where the event may be staged in the future.
The historic Sheffield location has been the home of snooker for almost half a century, but the Crucible's smell has been subject to debate this week. More importantly, with interest in the sport waning, Saudi investors are circling and trying to lure the sport's landmark event to the Middle East.
Speculation over the future location of the tournament was sparked by seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan prior to this year's World Snooker Championship. O'Sullivan argued that the organisation should open it's wings across the world, and suggested that it should be held in the middle east after the Crucible's current contract runs out in 2027.
The Riyadh Masters took place in 2024 and there were shockwaves in the sport when the competition became an official sponsor of the Sheffield event this year.
The future of the Worlds - and indeed the sport - was the subject of a fascinating, if depressing debate between Ken Doherty and Barry Hearn, during BBC's coverage on Wednesday.
Ken Doherty and Barry Hearn clash over Middle East involvement
In recent years, Saudi Arabia's interest in the game has grown dramatically, and they're due to host their first event next year. Their involvement has also seen the prize for potting the Golden Ball during the second World Masters of Snooker double to $1 million.
Snooker seems to be the latest interest of the kingdom after their recent splashes into the world of golf and football.
Hearn famously said many moons ago:
"On my tombstone will not be written, 'This is the man who took the World Championships away from The Crucible'. It's staying and it don't matter how much is involved."
Just leaving this here.pic.twitter.com/GWsmx7bsL4
— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) April 24, 2024
However, speaking during coverage of today's games, Barry Hearn suggested that the money that Saudi Arabia would bring in, far outweighs the history of the game.
No trust me money has the edge every time. We live in the real world. If there's deals out there that are going to change people's lives and increase money ten-times.
Ken Doherty couldn't help but bite back.
The former World Snooker champion questioned Hearn about over looking the history that the Crucible brings.
Does the history and nostalgia of the Crucible not mean something? Aren't there things in life that money cannot buy?
Barry Hearn was quick to give his simple response of "No", to which Doherty disagreed.
Heard added:
Lets be perfectly honest. If you leave out the romantic stuff about that (the Crucible). In a business sense and snooker is a professional sport, played by professional sportsmen, their first demand across any sport is prize money. They want to see it as big as possible, and we as custodians of the sport, have a fiduciary duty to those players.
Doherty continued to question Barry Hearn's logic and suggested the Saudi Arabians create their own history and tournaments that are as big as the World Championship and leave the crucible the way it is.
Hearn agreed that they could, but doubted that they would.
Certainly they can, but it's a shortcut. These people are not renowned, the Middle East backers mainly but also Chinese backers, are not renowned in their life to not getting what they want and they want it now.
Take the emotion out business because life doesn't work like that. I'd love to tell you that it is and we all live in a fairy story. There's never enough, it's all about money. Get used to it. Because the world is changing and I'm sorry, I'm not going to be a dinosaur and not change with the world.
It’s all about Money, money, money…@kendoherty1997
Theme for podcasters.@Nick_Metcalfe @philhaigh_ @onefoursevenpod @TalkingSnooker @davehendon @announcerphil #SnookerPodcast #GoodByeCrucible pic.twitter.com/mDbQma2V5u
— Klára (@Klara__T) April 24, 2024
You can watch the entire exchange here.
It was interesting to see fans of the sport on social media praise Doherty for his stance.
This is utterly disgraceful.
Hats off to @kendoherty1997 for saying what's on everyone's mind.
Some people are so poor that all they have is money. https://t.co/Wou9JDiHMe— Joe Astley (@jastleyofficial) April 24, 2024
Fckn hurts listening to this bullshit, I’m so disappointed the now…
Ken you lovely blessed soul…
I’m teary-eyed, fck all this! Barry you’re ruining snooker, the best sport ever made.#147sf #snooker https://t.co/YyDKJl2DNK— Judy In Disguise (@judylicious_) April 24, 2024
Some things shouldn't be touched. @kendoherty1997 making it clear from the players' point of view. Disappointed in Barry Hearn. Last year offering to help all the fans who lost out to the oil protest, now saying he will take the tournament away for money. pic.twitter.com/kTH0R85Puw
— Richard Stevenson (@oneboxtele) April 24, 2024
Well @BarryHearn what a turncoat u r
I hope that one day you will look back at your legacy, you ARE the man that sold #snooker@kendoherty1997 was right, everything isn’t about money
You’ll rip the heart out of #snooker fans all over the world
by leaving @crucibletheatre #147sf— Cruciblecrush 🩷🩷🩷🌲🦉🦇🦔🏔️🌲 (@cruciblecrush) April 24, 2024
For avid snooker fans and people who have become so accustomed to watching the biggest event at the most iconic venue, these views from Barry Hearn will likely hurt, and if the decision makers share the same opinion as the Matchroom president, these changes could happen fast.
SEE MORE: The Role Ronnie O'Sullivan Played In Ken Doherty's Iconic World Championship Win
