world snooker championship

World Snooker Championship: What Makes the Crucible So Special?

By Sports April 14, 2023

The upcoming 2023 World Snooker Championship is the biggest snooker tournament in the world. The best players head to the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, to compete for snooker’s biggest prize. The Crucible is the home of snooker, but what makes the old venue so special?

Can Anyone Stop O’Sullivan From Making History?

Ronnie O’Sullivan is looking to become the outright record world champion this year. O’Sullivan is the bookies’ favorite at +450 in the snooker betting to retain the title. According to the latest odds in the Snooker World Championship 2023 betting market, you can get Judd Trump at +500, while Mark Selby is available at +650.

O’Sullivan beat Trump in last year’s final to get his hands on the Snooker World Championship trophy for a record-equalling seventh time. The current world No. 1 is 47 years old, but O’Sullivan is certainly the man to beat in Sheffield. If the Rocket prevails, he will become the outright World Snooker Championship winner in the modern era.


Crucible a Special Venue

In the world of snooker, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is the home of the sport. It may not be the most spectacular arena on the tour, but the history and romance of the venue make it incredibly special.

The 2023 edition of the World Snooker Championship will be the 47th consecutive year that the tournament has taken place in Sheffield. The first was held way back in 1977, with John Spencer winning the inaugural Crucible championship, beating Canadian Cliff Thorburn in the final.

Several of the biggest names in the sport have prevailed at the Crucible since 1977. In the early years, the likes of Spencer, Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths and Thorburn lifted the trophy in Sheffield. The eighties was a great decade in the history of the championship, with Steve Davis dominating the sport. Davis picked up wins in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Davis had the eighties, but Stephen Hendry dominated the nineties, winning all seven of his world titles in this decade. O’Sullivan has caught up in recent years, but Hendry’s record of seven wins from ten championships is an astonishing record.

A Unique Atmosphere in Sheffield

A whole host of the world’s best players have nothing but praise for the South Yorkshire venue. Throughout the years, the likes of Dennis Taylor, Ken Doherty, Mark King, and four-time world champion Mark Selby have all expressed their love for the Crucible.


The layout of the venue makes for a unique atmosphere. The fans are close to the players, with two tables side by side for the majority of the campaign. After the quarter-finals, the World Championship moves to one table, which adds even more excitement to the competition.

There have been many great finals at the Sheffield venue since the seventies, and there will be more to come. The World Championship should never move from the unique Crucible venue, and this year’s edition will no doubt throw up more thrills and spills.

Sarah Guerrero

A self-taught artist, Sarah loves anything that has a unique aesthetic appeal and everything from her home to her work desk carries a stamp of personal taste. When she’s not busy at her desk job, she loves to pen her thoughts down and often engages in creating mood boards inspired by nature, fashion, culture, and art.

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