The dust may have settled on another successful and enthralling World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre but snooker is still very much a hot topic in the city. 

Prior to the Halo-sponsored tournament getting underway in April, it was revealed that the World Snooker Championship would be staying in Sheffield until at least 2045, with an extension to extend until 2050, thanks to a landmark agreement between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council. 

Separately, plans have been developed to transform the Crucible Theatre with a major £45million refurbishment that will add 500 extra seats alongside other significant improvements such as enhanced spectator facilities. 

The Championship will continue to be staged at the Crucible in its current design through to 2028. During the planned redevelopment period, the event is expected to be  hosted temporarily at an alternative venue before returning to a transformed theatre. 

“For over 50 years I have been promoting sport all over the world but no venue on this planet means more to me than the Crucible,” said Barry Hearn, President of Matchroom Sport. “I am so happy that after a long period of meetings and discussions we have finally agreed a deal to stage the World Championship at its historic home – the Crucible. My thanks must go to Sheffield City Council for all of their hard work in ensuring this great tournament remains at its spiritual home.”

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry, added: “There is simply nowhere else like the Crucible or anywhere else that could replicate that atmosphere or the sense of history. It was always my favourite place to play and I still love going to Sheffield. I am thrilled that we are staying there long term.”

One person who has long been an advocate for snooker in the city is Stephen Harrison, a former professional who set up the Stephen Harrison Academy (SHA) in 2007. This not-for-profit community-run organisation provides snooker coaching to children and adults with physical and learning disabilities.

Stephen’s proven innovative methods, that primarily use snooker as a fun way to attract and engage disadvantaged groups, have been so successful that he was awarded an MBE in 2019. 

SHA was partly inspired by Steve’s dad Ray, who was a paraplegic snooker world champion in 1985. Ray was a keen sportsman, even playing a game for Sheffield United, before a football injury resulted in him losing a leg. The resulting hospital stay meant he was in the bed next to Derek Dooley, who also lost his leg. That wasn’t the end of the bad luck for Ray, as a couple of years later he also lost his right lung. Because of his love of sport he was determined to find one that was accessible for him in a wheelchair.

“He found snooker at the age of 20, 21 and he took it from there,” says Steve. “I remember being 11 and I travelled to watch him compete in the paraplegic world championships where he won two bronze, a silver and the coveted gold medal in 1985, making him the world champion. He taught me everything.”

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Steve went on to play on the main snooker tour, against the likes of Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and the late Paul Hunter, before hanging up his professional cue in 2005. The idea for the academy came after he was approached by a group of adults with learning disabilities who wanted to learn how to play the game.”

After starting in Walkley, the academy relocated to Attercliffe, opposite the Olympic Legacy Park, in 2020 and now sees 250 people passing through its doors each week. It has five tables as well as break-out areas and a kitchen and works as a social hub as well as a centre for snooker excellence. 

“My driver is snooker because that’s all I’ve ever known,” explains Steve. “But the most important thing I’ve seen is a community coming together. We’re completely inclusive and encourage people to make friends along the way.”

When I speak to Steve he was getting ready to launch a new world disability championship called Cue10, which was sponsored by Sheffield business Stauff UK. Steve developed a new faster-paced format specifically for the competition which involves a smaller table (9×4) and just ten reds rather than the usual 15.

The tournament attracted 48 competitors across different categories from as far afield as the USA, China, India and Mexico and took place at the end of April with the final being played at the Canon Medical Arena. 

Aslam Abubaker, from India, won The Stauff UK Cue10 Para World Snooker Championship, beating Tony Southern 3-1 in the final, whist SHA club member, Reece Matin, lifted the BHP Disability Championship in the standing category, beating a very talented Carl Gibson. The junior finals saw Joseph Mistry beat Connor Allwood 2-0.

“A huge shout out to our sponsors for backing the event, we couldn’t have achieved this without your financial input,” said Steve. “And thank you to all the volunteers and staff for helping out throughout the championships.

“We had almost 300 spectators watching from schools, colleges and community groups – thank you for all coming along to watch the showcase finals and thanks to the Canon Medical Arena – what a fantastic place to hold the event.”

Such was the tournament’s success that Steve has already had 47 enquiries for players to register to play in next year’s tournament. The aim is to compete with 96 competitors in 2027. 

“On a personal note, it was hard for me to hold my emotions in, I kept thinking how much my dad would have revelled in playing in something like this,” concluded Steve. “This will inspire me further to make it bigger next year and encourage many more disabled players and young people to pick a cue up and get involved.”

In the meantime, the Stephen Harrison Academy, the home of disability snooker, opens seven days a week and offers something for everyone. 

Click here to find out more.