“There’s been some wonderful moments at the Crucible which stand the test of time, and I think these next two weeks will be another,” he says. “There’s over 500 million people around the world watching this little 900-seater venue. There’s really nothing like it. And with fans there, it’s going to be something to cherish.”
Barry Hearn
Introduction
This year’s World Championship leads the way for being the first sporting event to allow a staggered audience to return to the Crucible. Part of a government pilot scheme, the tournament will gradually allow more people to attend throughout the seventeen days with a capacity audience planned for the final. A much needed present for the game and for fans as the doors have been firmed locked to the outside world since last year’s event.
The Noise of Applause
In this year of uncertainty, snooker has been one of the few sports to be able continue behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes and Celtic Manor in Wales.With a stringent testing and bubble system for players and staff, the sport has survived and thrived, replacing the audience with a unknown individual pressing an applause button periodically during play.
Yet beyond the refined manipulation of snooker balls, has lain as eerie silence for too long. A darkened void, bereft of seating and human interaction. Thankfully the snooker faithful have accepted the call to attend snooker’s greatest show and joined the coiled queuing system to be tested and await a negative result. Only then could they pass through the theatre’s doors, don a face mask and sit in one of the few socially distanced seats that don’t display a sticker.
The applause person may have been assigned another task but leaves content, knowing that this becomes a first step on the government’s roadmap to recovery. The beer taps in the theatre may still be turned off and dripping but they will flow again soon and the tills will chime again.
The World Snooker Tour, its associates and sponsor Betfred have made this possible with sterling drive and determination with one wanted goal, success. We have yet to see the Master of Ceremonies, Rob Walker become animated and belt out his numerous catchphrase laden introductions. He remains a shadow of his former self, muted and restricted. However the red tape of rule making will be cut gradually and the recoiled Rob, will spring back into action.
This is a moment of hope in this endless desert of Coronavirus. The light at the end of the tunnel is nearing but the path had to be walked cautiously. Many obstacles litter the way and they must be avoided at all costs. Only then will the spirit of snooker re-join the normality of a sporting experience. The pre and post PCR tests remain for now and the hand sanitisers line the entrance and venue itself at regular intervals. 320 fans will soon multiply into 980. The future is hopeful and potentially very bright.
