Crucible Theatre: Hossein Vafaei says Sheffield venue ‘smells’ and the World Championship should move elsewhere

Iran’s Hossein Vafaei has criticised the Crucible Theatre, saying the venue “smells really bad”, the practice room is like a “garage” and the World Championship should move elsewhere.

The Crucible, which only holds 980 people, has staged snooker’s biggest competition every year since 1977.

Its current deal expires in three years with many believing the event should then move from its Sheffield base.

“Should I be honest? Are you enjoying being here?” asked the 29-year-old.

“History is very important but nobody invests any money in this historical venue. You want to go somewhere really nice. If you walk around the Crucible it smells really bad. I’m honest. Everything is so bad.”

Vafaei has played at the Crucible in each of the past three years and lost 10-5 to world number two Judd Trump in the first round of the 2024 competition on Sunday.

But the Iranian would prefer the event to be held in either China or Saudi Arabia, a country that staged its first snooker tournament in March with the World Masters of Snooker.

“You go to other top venues in other countries and you can see how nice they treat you, how nice everything is and it is so shiny and completely different,” added Vafaei. “If you ask me do I want to come back here, the answer is no.

“The practice room? Do you see anything special about it? It feels like I’m practicing in a garage and that’s not good. I’m coming here from a different country to see that. I’m sorry I have to tell the truth.”