Exclusive: Snooker Star Murphy Says World Championship Leaving Crucible is "Inevitable"

Snooker star Shaun Murphy believes it is “inevitable” the World Championship will leave Sheffield.

The ‘Magician’ famously won his maiden world title at the city’s iconic Crucible Theatre in 2005.

The world No 6, who used to live in Rotherham, close by to the venue, has long been an advocate of the incredible history for the tournament in South Yorkshire.

But unless Sheffield City Council and World Snooker, the sport’s governing body, can get their heads together on a bigger and improved venue, then Murphy sees the tournament moving abroad.

“It’s inevitable if the Crucible doesn’t change,” stressed Murphy.

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, the world No 6 added: “It’s ultimately down to numbers, it’s only maths and economics."

“It’s our biggest event in our smallest arena, commercially that simply cannot go on."

“We don’t live in those old nostalgic days anymore. I love to live in those days on YouTube, there’s nothing better than going down memory lane and watching a montage of the great matches and the crowd were all dressed in suits."

“I love all that, but we don’t live there anymore and we have to move on, otherwise we’ll get left behind.”

Meteoric growth under Hearn

Snooker has grown at a meteoric rate since top sports promoter Barry Hearn dedicated the last decade on hauling the green baize game from the doldrums and into the limelight once again.

The demand for top tournaments abroad, especially in money-rich Saudia Arabia, is higher than ever before.

Saudia Arabia have already said they would love to host the World Championship and are currently happy splashing the cash on annual high-profile events.

Top potter Judd Trump benefited in the pocket when he won £500,000 for winning the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters in Riyadh in September last year, and former World, UK and double Masters champion Murphy can see more expansion across the world.

“2004-05 was year one of the China Open – and we’ve seen how snooker – and that tournament - has grown and grown,” reflected Murphy.

“The Saudis are miles ahead of where China was. If that [tournament in September] was there first attempt at a ranking event, well I’m already looking ahead to next year."

“The crowds weren’t amazing by our standards, but by the culture in Saudi Arabia they were big."

“It’s a different world over there, it’s 45 degrees in the middle of the day. You probably wouldn’t go out in that type of heat."

“But the evening matches were well attended, a lot of the sessions were well attended and mine and Judd’s semi was, as was the final."

“It’s word of mouth and it has to grow at the end of the day."

“The venue was in the middle of Riyadh, it was a little bit out of town and it was a temporary building which hadn’t been there a month previously.”

Saudis bidding for World Championship

Murphy is adamant growth takes time, with Saudi Arabia a real possibility for the World Championship one day.

“All these things have to start somewhere, but if we compare it to other territories we’ve been to – and had growth – well they’re way ahead,” added Murphy.

“Just look at the boxing, the growth has been huge. It just goes to show that if you’ve got enough to spend, then success can come."

“I don’t think we’re in danger of losing the UK crowd if I’m being honest, every event I play in the UK is well attended and well supported."

“But I think generally in world snooker there is room for the game to grow around the world."

“Let’s not forget, snooker is not an English game. A lot of people think it is, but we didn’t invent it. It was invented in the mountains of India."

“Why we think we’ve got this claim over, I’m not really sure."

“It’s not an English sport, but Sheffield has become the home of snooker because the World Championship has been there for so long."

“We’re lucky to be custodiams of the sport at the end of the day, but there’s always new places for the game to grow.”