'If it had moved, it would have been such a shame'

Martin Chesworth, who runs Chesworth Cues, says he loves the "buzz" in Sheffield during the tournament [Simon Thake/BBC] The news that Sheffield's love affair with the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre can continue well into the future has been welcomed by people across the city. Home to the annual showpiece event since 1977, the Crucible will remain host to the prestigious contest every April until at least 2045 , after it was announced the famous venue would be expanded with up to 500 additional seats. It puts an end to speculation the tournament could leave Sheffield, and perhaps even the UK, altogether and brings a sporting boost to the city, many of whose residents cherish the unique buzz it generates and the good it does to the coffers of local businesses.

Dan Kirkland, manager of the Spot On Snooker Club, on Langsett Road, says the announcement is "brilliant for snooker and even better for Sheffield". "Snooker clubs really benefit - not just from local people coming in, but for us during the World Championships, we get people coming from all over the country and all over the world," he says. "We get people from Ukraine and even as far away as South America coming in, because when they come to the Crucible, they also want to play at a local snooker club.

" The World Snooker Championship is to stay at the Crucible until at least 2045 [Getty Images] Kirkland says snooker clubs across the country are having to navigate tricky times just now, as there is a limit on how many people they can accommodate at any one time. "Discussions around business rates haven't been kind to us," he says. "Snooker clubs are one of those venues that have to have big spaces, but that doesn't necessarily mean big capacity in terms of people.

"The World Championships is one of our busiest times of the year, and without it being at the Crucible it just wouldn't be like that. " Lewis Elliott says the tournament is like a "second Christmas" for Sheffield's Head of Steam pub [Simon Thake/BBC] Kirkland adds that as a snooker fan himself, he is delighted the World Championship is set to stay in Sheffield. "I've been going to the Crucible for the last 30 years," he explains.