Judd Trump believes that the decision for the World Snooker Championship to remain at the Crucible until at least 2045 is a positive development, whereas Ronnie O'Sullivan expressed a different viewpoint two years ago, suggesting alternative locations such as China or Saudi Arabia.

The World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council have reached an agreement to keep the World Championship at the Crucible until 2045, with the option to extend the arrangement to 2050.

Additionally, they are developing plans for a significant renovation of the theatre following the 2028 edition, which could include the addition of 500 seats, potentially increasing the capacity from 980 to 1,480.

Trump, who is 36 years old, discussed the agreement after recovering from a 4-0 deficit to win 10-8 against Mark Allen in the opening round of the Tour Championship in Manchester, stating: "It's great news, it puts all the uncertainty to bed."

"For snooker, it's probably the best thing that could have happened, and the fact that they will improve the venue in a few years' time is even better," Trump added, expressing his enthusiasm for the development.

Trump continued, "It's an exciting time for snooker; the World Championship is always special, and it's good to keep it in the UK, and any arena where you are surrounded and immersed brings even more pressure, which is beneficial for the sport."

Snooker world No 1 Judd Trump believes that the World Championship remaining at the Crucible is suitable for the sport, as seen in the image provided by Getty.

"We're happy to play there for the next two years, but everyone will be keeping one eye on what is going to happen after, and hopefully, I'll have the chance to play in that new arena," Trump said, looking forward to the future.

O'Sullivan has yet to publicly comment on the World Championship remaining in Sheffield; however, two years ago, the seven-time world champion told The Sun: "I don't like the Crucible, I don't think you can get in and out of it, and I think it's definitely a wise decision to take it away from Sheffield."

"I think it would be a good idea to still have a tournament there, but not the World Championship over 17 days, as it's a massive circus that requires a massive space to accommodate it," O'Sullivan explained, providing his reasoning.

O'Sullivan suggested that Saudi Arabia could be a great location, stating: "They've got the resources and would do it great, and if you're going to take it to China, you'd have to take it to Shanghai, or another major city like Shenzhen or Guangzhou."

"It would be done properly, with courtesy cars laid on, food provided, great hotels, and everything would be paid for, and the prize money would be astronomical, unlike at the Crucible where you might get nice tea and lasagne if the guys are cooking, but that's about it," O'Sullivan said, comparing the potential hosting locations.

The decision to keep the World Championship at the Crucible has sparked a debate among snooker players and fans, with some agreeing with Trump's view and others siding with O'Sullivan's opinion.

The World Snooker Tour's agreement with Sheffield City Council has provided a sense of stability and security for the sport, allowing players to focus on their game without worrying about the future of the Championship.

As the snooker world continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the sport develops and whether the decision to keep the World Championship at the Crucible will have a positive impact on the game.