- Members of the University of Sheffield Pool and Snooker Club met and interviewed some of the world’s top 16 players at the Crucible Theatre, as the annual World Championships gets underway in the city
- The group took part in a competitive tournament at the Cambridge Street Collective foodhall, facing off against players from several other universities including Manchester, Leeds and York St John
- The club’s committee highlighted the importance of the World Snooker Championships to the city, expressing their excitement that the tournament will remain in Sheffield until at least 2046
A student sports club is proving that Sheffield’s love of snooker is stronger than ever, with members heading to the Crucible to meet the world’s top 16 players during the tournament’s high-profile launch.
Following the news that the World Snooker Championships will remain at the city’s iconic Crucible Theatre until at least 2045, the University of Sheffield Pool and Snooker club had plenty to celebrate.
Thanks to Championship sponsors Halo, members of the society were joined by counterparts from several other universities to meet the sport’s biggest talents, including Mark Allen, Ding Junhui and Shaun Murphy. The group even got the chance to interview them in the Crucible’s media rooms. Afterward, the group headed to the Cambridge Street Collective foodhall for a special student tournament, battling it out with players from Sheffield Hallam, The University of Manchester, Lincoln, Leeds and York St John.
With expert tuition from 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty, a thrilling tournament saw Ben Wornes (University of Manchester) take home the top prize - tickets to the World Championship Final.
Joseph Callery, President of the University of Sheffield Pool and Snooker Society and final year Geography student, said: “I’m a massive snooker fan and I’ve watched the tournament with my dad from a very young age. One of the first things I did when I arrived in Sheffield was to join the club!
“When it came to deciding where to study, I was 50/50 between Sheffield and Loughborough. The fact that Sheffield is the home of snooker likely influenced my decision. Sport is really important to me.
Joseph breathed a sigh of relief when the news broke that Sheffield would retain the World Championships.
“It’s huge that snooker is staying in Sheffield and brilliant news for the city. The atmosphere in the Crucible is just incredible and there’s really nowhere else quite like it. If it was to move somewhere else you would lose that magic.”
Vincent Moore, a second year Maths student at Sheffield, is hoping to be elected as the club’s new President when Joseph graduates. He said: “It’s brilliant that the World Snooker Championships are staying in Sheffield - it adds so much to the city.
“The Crucible is such a unique, iconic venue and it’s so much more intimate than anywhere else on the circuit. There’s so much history here, and now we can look forward to many more special moments.
Vincent, who has followed snooker since he was eight, admitted that the tournament's location was a major draw.
“I can’t say that it was the defining factor as there’s so much to consider - but it was definitely a solid tick for Sheffield. Knowing that I’d be able to come and watch the Championships and soak up the atmosphere each year didn’t harm the case!”
Now Vincent would like to continue to grow the society and get as many new members on board as possible.
“The growth of the society since the pandemic has been massive and we’re really proud of what we’ve achieved,” he added.
“But we want to keep growing and get as many people involved as possible. If you were even just thinking about it, just come and give it a go.
“We cater to all abilities and we’re here to have a good time and make friends. Cuesports across UK universities are still quite male dominated, however we'd really love to see more women involved too. Our club is for everyone and it would be great to see as wide a representation as possible.”
To find out more about the University of Sheffield Pool and Snooker Club, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.
