As John Higgins prepares for his thirtieth World Championship look, the four-time champion thinks a transfer away from the Crucible is “inevitable”.
The well-known Sheffield venue has staged snooker’s largest competitors yearly since 1977, with the present settlement as a result of expire in 2027.
Higgins has by no means missed the occasion since his match debut in 1995, taking the highest prize in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
World primary Ronnie O’Sullivan is amongst these saying it ought to be staged elsewhere, with Higgins telling BBC Sport: “I believe it is inevitable. The panorama of the snooker world may have modified in three years.
“I am simply fortunate that I’ve gained it right here. It is going to be unhappy to depart, it has been a large a part of my life.
“I believe when you requested different gamers who’ve by no means lifted the trophy right here, that may be one thing they’d in all probability remorse for the remainder of their lives.
“The financial institution steadiness may not say that [for future winners], however when you look again on the historical past and the champions earlier than them, they’d like to have gained it right here as a result of it is particular. It is one of the best place to play snooker.”