World Snooker Championship

The Cazoo World Snooker Championship is professional snooker's longest-running and most prestigious tournament, and has been held at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield since 1977.

One of Sheffield’s biggest sporting events, the championship takes place each year, with 32 of snooker’s best players competing in a knockout style tournament. The top 16 players in the world rankings qualify automatically, while another 16 players win places through a qualification tournament, which is also held in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport.

Taking place in April each year, the event attracts thousands of snooker enthusiasts from across the globe to Sheffield. The event is televised to an international audience of 500 million, across 150 countries - with extensive coverage broadcast live on BBC Sport and Eurosport.

The final of the championships often falls on the first May Bank Holiday Monday in England and sees millions of viewers tune in for the dramatic climax to the tournament.

The sport’s most celebrated event with a history dating back to 1927, it has been staged at the iconic Crucible in Sheffield since 1977, where it will remain until at least 2027. The event is organised and promoted by World Snooker Limited, in partnership with Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Theatres. 

Europe’s leading online car retailer, Cazoo was announced as the new title sponsor for the World Snooker Championship in May 2022.