By Samuel Meade
Ronnie O'Sullivan claims the World Snooker Championship should be moved away from its iconic Crucible venue - which is no longer fit for purpose.
The Rocket, who will be eyeing a record eighth title when he next heads to Sheffield, is an advocate of taking the sport's flagship tournament to either Saudi Arabia or China, where he recently played and enjoyed stellar hospitality.
O'Sullivan claims that the Crucible hasn't moved with the times, criticising its food and accessibility. The World Championship will remain in Sheffield until at least 2027, when its contract is up.
He told The Sun : “I don’t like the Crucible. I don’t think you can get in and out of it. I think definitely it’s a wise decision to take it away from Sheffield. Still have a tournament there. Why not? But just not the world championship over 17 days. It’s a massive circus and you need a massive space to accommodate it.
“I think Saudi Arabia would be great. They’ve got the resources and would do it great. If you’re going to take it to China, you’d have to take it to Shanghai. Or another major city like Shenzhen or Guangzhou. It’d be done properly. Courtesy cars will be laid on. Food will be there. Hotels will be great. Everything would be paid for. Prize money would be astronomical.
“The snooker becomes secondary. What are the facilities like? What’s it like for the fans? What’s the access like? You don’t need a 10 out of 10 venue. But everything else has to be right.”
O'Sullivan has never been shy in speaking his mind and believes the hectic nature of the tournament in Yorkshire doesn't help the players or the fans.
He added: “A lot of the problem with Sheffield is you get no peace and quiet, you cannot even park there. This year I’ll take my electric bike, with a suit and rucksack. Fold it up, sit in the venue an hour beforehand, take my time. Trying to get in and out of Sheffield, it’s a nightmare. It’s a one-way system. But then you get roadworks or a diversion.
“You don’t want all that. You don’t get all that in Shanghai. You get a courtesy car to pick you up. Roads are shut off. Ten security guards walk you in. There are practice tables. Beautiful food. You end up giving your time to the fans because I haven’t had the stress and hassle."
