Gary Wilson left with “a sour taste” over new Crucible extension

Gary Wilson is pleased to see the World Championship remain at The Crucible, but concedes the logistics of the new deal have left “a sour taste”.

Last month saw a landmark long-term agreement reached between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council, ensuring the sport’s blue-riband event will remain at the iconic venue until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050.

There are plans to redevelop the 980-seater Crucible in 2028, with the World Championship set to be temporarily hosted at an alternative venue during the £45 million refurbishment.

Significant changes proposed to be made include the potential to add up to 500 seats in an ‘in the round’ configuration, as well as improving spectator facilities.

The previous deal was set to expire in 2027 and Wilson believes the decision to remain at the “Wimbledon of snooker” has made “everybody happy”.

However, the 2019 semi-finalist feels the sport has “settled” and that the proposed developments are “not the ideal that we were all hoping for”.

“Yes, as my overriding feeling,” he told Live Snooker when asked if he was happy to see the tournament remain in Sheffield.

“The idea of being at the Crucible makes everybody happy. That is the home of the World Championship. It’s the Wimbledon of snooker. It’s where you should be playing the World Championship.

“Then, you’ve got the logistics behind that, which is a little bit more disappointing. It’s good news that they’re going to refurbish the Crucible and add up to 500 seats. But looking at it purely from an outsider’s point of view, they’re doing the whole refurb for the next 20 years or so, but only adding 500 seats to a venue that – we’ve said for a good few years now – needs updating and changing.

“If we want this tournament to be as big as it should be, you would prefer around 2,000 or 2,500 seats to get the ticket sales to generate prize money, but still within a Crucible-like atmosphere. I think the ideal for everybody would have been to maybe knock it down and rebuild it. This feels like a bit of a halfway house where you can take what you get, which leaves a little bit of a sour taste. You haven’t really got what you want, but you’ve kind of settled.

“That’s just the general feeling I’ve got. If everything else inside gets refurbished – like you have more space around the practice area, better facilities for guests – then great and it will be better. It’s not the ideal that we were all hoping for. You feel happy in one sense, but slightly negative in the sense you’re stuck there with that for the next 20 years, and it’s only a little bit better.”

Wilson also highlighted the significance of playing the World Championship away from the Crucible during the period of refurbishment.

“It’s a little bit frustrating and disappointing that, for a year or possibly two, we’re going to have to move to a different venue,” he added. “I’d have liked to have thought they can get it signed off and ready to go after the 2028 World Championship, then get it done within 12 months. It’s just unfortunate it’s going to take a lot longer.

“It’s disappointing for the reason that the winner of the championship in 2029 and possibly 2030, it’s going to feel different and will be in history as the events at different venues. If you win the World Championship, you’re over the moon regardless, but from the sentimental side of things, it’s a pretty big deal.”

Wilson is seeking a return to the Crucible this year, having failed to qualify for the final stages of the World Championship 12 months ago.

Once again, the world number 24 will have to navigate two qualifying rounds to take one of the 16 remaining places in the main draw.

Earlier this season, the three-time ranking event winner revealed a lack of satisfaction with his game, despite reaching the Wuhan Open final, where he was runner-up to Xiao Guodong.

As a result, there will be no outstanding motivation for Wilson when he descends on the English Institute of Sport.

“I’ve taken the emotion out of my snooker these days,” he explained. “I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I’m not doing anything other than the very simple preparation of practice, try on my shots, turn up, try and enjoy the game. That’s the best way I can describe it.”

Nevertheless, he will arrive with some positive momentum to build on, following his run to the quarter-finals of the World Open last time out.

Wilson defeated reigning World champion Zhao Xintong 5-2 along the way, before losing 5-1 to eventual winner Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

“For the first time in a little while, I actually felt I was playing some half-decent stuff,” he said.

“I scored heavy against Zhao and made the most of my chances. I felt I was still playing in a similar way against Thepchaiya, but he just seemed to have a lot of run of the ball and was playing well. That’s a bad combination.”