Steve Davis, the six-time Snooker World Champion, has described the Crucible as the ‘Mecca’ of the sport. The 68-year-old is back in Sheffield for the ongoing Snooker World Championship tournament. Davis dominated the sport in the 1980s.
Davis on the Importance of the Crucible
Davis spoke about the importance of the Crucible Theatre. He said: “It’s great to be in Sheffield, and it’s great that the tournament is staying in Sheffield as well.
“It’s fantastic news for the history of the game.
“I think all the players really enjoy playing at the Crucible because it’s a really special atmosphere.”
He added, “As the younger players play more often here, they’ll realise that it’s a special place.”
Crucible’s Planned Renovations
Davis said he’s ‘excited’ to see how the Crucible turns out after it gets revamped. He stated, “It’ll be great to see what happens when the Crucible has been renovated.
500 extra seats are set to be added inside the iconic venue over the next few years. The Crucible has hosted the tournament since 1977.
Sheffield’s Connection to Snooker
Davis noted the city’s strong ties to the sport: “It’s the Mecca of snooker really, and people travel from all over the world to come here now.
“China has got two academies in Sheffield – because the city has become synonymous with the game – it’s probably taken over from steel in many ways.
“I’m pleased the Crucible is only getting slightly bigger, and not twice or three times the size it currently is.”
Davis is pleased the Crucible is only getting slightly bigger.