Snooker World Championship could move

10:24am Wednesday 8th October 2008

The World Snooker Championship could be taken to China from 2011 to exploit the country's exploding market for the sport, according to the head of the game's governing body.

Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has revealed he was approached for talks about a possible switch in venue during last week's Shanghai Masters.

"During the Roewe Shanghai Masters I was approached about the prospect of moving the World Championship to China," Walker told the Daily Mail.

The WPBSA has a contract with Sheffield City Council to stage snooker's most important tournament at the Crucible - its home for 31 years - until 2010.

But after that point the World Championship could be taken to China to reap the benefits of snooker's huge popularity there - including increased sponsorship revenue, greater global coverage and bigger attendances.

Walker added in the Daily Mail: "The momentum of snooker in China is growing and this is not the first time the matter has been raised there, although discussions are at a very early stage.

"We have a contract with Sheffield City Council which has two years to run, but beyond that we have to evaluate all options available to us and decide what is best for our members."

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