Young People to Enjoy Crucible Experience as World Seniors Snooker Championship Returns to Sheffield

Young snooker players from across Sheffield will once again have the chance to experience playing in the iconic Crucible Theatre, as Youth of Sheffield Day returns on Saturday 9 May as part of the World Seniors Snooker Championship. The day is designed to celebrate young people in Sheffield and encourage more children and families to get involved in snooker.

The day is designed to celebrate young people in Sheffield and encourage more children and families to get involved in snooker.

This forms part of a wider celebration of Sheffield’s connection to snooker and aims to inspire the next generation of players through hands-on experience, competition and live sport. It also builds on the success of the first Youth of Sheffield Day, which was staged during last year’s championship.

Sheffield Music Hub will be bringing live music to Tudor Square, with performances taking place outside the Crucible from 10.00am to 11:45am. Children and families can enjoy for free and include performances from Sheffield Youth Big Band and Rock and Pop Band Skills programme bands.

Youth Day will also include partnerships with local universities for students to work on the marketing, promotion and TV production of the event.

A free, bite sized careers trail, the Snooker Sector Safari, is also taking place. The trail showcases the wide range of careers involved in delivering a world‑class snooker event.

This year’s Seniors Snooker competition event will feature some of the biggest names in the sport, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans. Defending champion Alfie Burden will also return, alongside ranking event winners Joe Perry, Robert Milkins and Dominic Dale.

Mike Dunn, World Seniors Snooker Director, said: “To see Tudor Square full of young people enjoying their music and the snooker was so heart-warming, this year promises to be bigger and better”

The announcement comes as World Seniors Snooker confirms that the championship will return to the Crucible from 6 to 10 May 2026, with an expanded field of 24 players competing for a record prize fund of £30,000.

Youth of Sheffield Day is designed to highlight Sheffield’s snooker legacy by inspiring the next generation of players and encouraging more young people to take up the sport.

The championship continues to bring players, fans and visitors to the city, supporting Sheffield’s reputation as the home of snooker, and the Crucible continues to act as host to the major event, attracting players, fans and families from across the world.