Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Barry Hearn's Matchroom Sport company has had a controlling stake in World Snooker since 2010
Barry Hearn has said he expects the 2029 World Snooker Championship to remain in the United Kingdom when Sheffield's Crucible Theatre is redeveloped.
It was announced in March that the sport's biggest tournament, which has been held at the small but atmospheric venue since 1977, would remain there until 2045.
However, linked to that is a deal that means the theatre will be redeveloped, with 500 seats added to take the capacity up to about 1,500.
While that happens, the tournament in 2029 and maybe in 2030 will have to be staged elsewhere, with China, which already hosts numerous ranking events, tipped as a potential destination.
"If I was a gambling man I would go odds on it stays in the UK," said Hearn, the president of Matchroom Sport, which has owned a controlling stake in World Snooker since 2010.
"But being the money man I am, if the right offer comes in I will have to consider it.
"Great Britain is the home of snooker, it is where we grew up as a sport, and I'm very loath to move it anywhere else."
There are a number of factors for snooker's leaders to bear in mind, including sponsorship and broadcasters' wishes.
"I have a great relationship with the BBC and you don't want to take it anywhere that has a different time zone. There are opportunities to take it elsewhere, but these opportunities come with downsides," Hearn said.
"As much as I love the Crucible, it's getting a bit aged - it was becoming not fit for purpose and money needed to be spent. It's a one or two-year gap, but everyone will put pressure on to make it just one year away. We have to really try to make it just one year."
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Crucible holds about 1,000 people, but after the redevelopment that will go up to 1,500
National and local government will supply £35m of the £45m cost for the revamp, with the other £10m coming from the private sector.
The World Championship is broadcast live on the BBC, and this year's tournament began on Saturday with the final finishing on 4 May.
Before the new contract, the 2026 event would have been the penultimate one at the Crucible, with the previous deal expiring in 2027.
"The team at World Snooker and Sheffield City Council have done the sensible thing and pulled off a deal that works for everybody. I would've hated to not be here, I'm so glad we're staying," added 77-year-old Hearn, who was chairman of World Snooker from 2010 to 2021.
"It was in doubt, but if people are sensible, the key word is 'respect' in negotiating a contract and you have to respect both sides. You never get everything you want, but a great deal leaves everyone with a bit of bread in their mouths.
"Credit to the government, they came up with the money to make the deal into a working possibility. Without that government money, this deal could not be done."
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'We did a deal that worked for everybody' - Hearn on securing the World Championship's future at the Crucible