Comment piece…
The World Snooker Championships held at the iconic venue since 1977 The Crucible will be staying until at least 2045.
Separately, plans are being developed to transform the Crucible theatre, with the sport’s most famous venue set to benefit from a major refurbishment, including the potential to add up to 500 additional seats in an ‘in the round’ configuration, alongside other significant improvements such as enhanced spectator facilities.
What does that mean? It means that snooker, although a declining sport in the UK from a playing perspective, figures don’t lie, is 19,000 – not a lot – if you compare some other sports – but, The Crucible and Sheffield, the Home of Snooker annually brings in interest around late March/Early April, as snooker venues see a boost in player numbers and interest in the game.
For weekly players, this feels a relief. Some venues are already struggling with finding players, or to some degree losing players elsewhere to other interests and hobbies and sidelines.
Overall, sports compete for people’s attentions – not just watching, but playing as well. You can’t deny it – sports like Padel tennis – and Pickleball and even traditional games are growing.
Even gun clubs have a waiting list! Yes – I have investigated joining a gun club – and there is a waiting list.
One of the biggest assets of snooker is The Crucible. If you have never been to it, then you will not understand the buzz you get from going there – whether as a player, or fan spectator.
For years, I went there, and have loved the atmosphere, not just from inside the Theatre in the Round, but also the Winter Gardens – and the Cue Zone and the surrounding city.
Sheffield really is a home for snooker fans.
Snooker has always brought in tourism around April – especially in Sheffield – and that is a good thing.
However, snooker does have a problem. Yes, not everyone can sit with rose tinted spectacles and not acknowledge that in the UK people just don’t want to pick up a cue – or at least, play it regularly.
There’s a few reasons.
Parts of the game are outdated – both online and off. But those who stick rather than twist don’t care – but, to most in the UK, there are so many other things to keep them occupied now – and, unfortunately, in a world of rapidly growing technology, that means sports like snooker need to compete hard for people’s time and money.
Don’t get me wrong – I would rather be playing on the baize than stuck in a virtual nosed Matrix, but, people don’t have the same attention spans as they once did.
People want fast, furious, and, of course, quick hits.
Snooker, in its modern form is at times, a slow, and frustrating game.
Yes, I’d happily sit there watching an hour of tactical snooker at any level. I love it. But, in the modern world, people want FAST.
The 2015 World Championship example of a 60 min endurance test between Stuart Bingham and Shaun Murphy is one example. There are many more examples of how tactical snooker is just as good as watching a player knock in a maxi or ton.
Which is why the Snooker Legends 900 has tried to up snooker’s game – by becoming fast, furious, and exhilarating in under 15 min frames.
I believe it was Stephen Hendry who once said that he thought the 900 would catch on at some point. And I agree with him. In some respects, it needs to.
Players of a wide variety get to play, and, fans get their fix of the game in a modern form. That’s the way to go – in my humble opinion.
We need to keep the tradition of snooker and The Crucible, but continue to modernise the game – because, and I honestly believe that in the future in the UK, there won’t be an amateur game.
No amateurs from the UK means no potential professionals – and the Chinese will dominate. Or even just people playing snooker. The game needs players.
But, and I have said this before, the UK mindset is not China. We are not in the same mindset as them.
Most people in the UK do not want to become professional sports people. They want to enjoy a nominated sport and play it. Some, like me, might play in odd tournaments, or leagues, but most just want to enjoy a game. Some, like me will be semi-serious, and play in leagues and do both – enjoy and also compete. I have had coaching as well.
The UK’s Most Played Amateur Sports — And Where Snooker Really Ranks…
In a country famous for its sporting culture, millions of people take part in amateur sport every year. From football pitches to swimming pools and local club courts, participation levels reveal what the nation actually plays — not just what it watches.
But where does snooker sit among the UK’s most widely played sports?
The answer may surprise many cue sports fans.
Using participation data from national surveys and reports by Sport England and industry research, we can build a clear picture of the UK’s most played amateur sports — and see where snooker fits into the wider sporting landscape.
🏆 The Top 10 Most Participated Amateur Sports in the UK
Based on typical annual participation estimates in England and the UK, these sports dominate grassroots involvement:
1. Football — ~11 million participants
The UK’s undisputed participation leader. Played in parks, schools, leagues, and casual settings nationwide.
2. Swimming — ~4.2 million
One of the most accessible physical activities, popular across all age groups.
3. Golf — ~1 million
A strong club-based sport with a large membership culture.
4. Tennis — ~640,000
Growing participation through clubs, parks, and community initiatives.
5. Badminton — ~360,000
A major indoor participation sport due to accessibility and low entry barriers.
6. Netball — ~319,000
Particularly strong in schools and community leagues.
7. Basketball — ~230,000
Steady grassroots growth, especially among younger players.
8. Cricket — ~229,000
A traditional club sport with strong seasonal participation.
9. Rugby Union — ~223,000
Deep club structure and strong regional participation.
10. Rugby League — ~50,000
More regionally concentrated but still widely organised.
🎱 So Where Does Snooker Rank?
Snooker does not appear in the UK’s top participation sports.
Estimates suggest:
- Roughly tens of thousands of active players in England
- Significantly fewer participants than major club sports
- Participation levels similar to niche indoor sports such as squash or bowls
In participation terms, snooker sits firmly in the “niche grassroots sport” category.
This may sound surprising given the sport’s profile — but participation and popularity are not the same thing.
📊 The Participation vs Popularity Gap
Here’s what makes snooker unusual.
Unlike many sports:
- It has major television exposure – recently Channel Five received decent viewing figures, but, does that mean that viewers will pick up a cue? Possible not…
- Strong professional events
- Global recognition
- Huge viewing audiences (particularly internationally)
Yet its amateur playing base remains relatively small.
Few sports combine high visibility with relatively low grassroots participation. In this sense, snooker resembles activities like boxing or motorsport — widely followed, less widely played.
Why This Matters for Snooker’s Future
Rather than being a weakness, this gap represents a major opportunity.
Snooker has:
✅ strong cultural recognition
✅ established professional pathways
✅ wide public awareness
✅ room for grassroots growth
The sport doesn’t need to build awareness — it needs to build access and participation.
This is why:
- beginner-friendly clubs
- coaching programmes
- community venues
- social formats of the game
may be the key to snooker’s next phase of growth.
The Bigger Picture
The UK’s most played sports tend to share common traits:
- easy access to facilities
- strong school participation
- clear grassroots pathways
- social and community appeal
Where snooker provides these opportunities, participation tends to follow.
The question for the future isn’t whether people know about snooker — they clearly do.
The real question is how easily people can start playing. And the honest answer is this – from experience – not! That means eradicating the snobbery in some quarters. Increasing venues. And updating and changing mindsets and images.
And that’s where the sport’s biggest opportunity lies.