Vafaei calls Crucible snooker’s answer to Wimbledon after branding it ‘smelly’ in 2024

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Hossein Vafaei has claimed the Crucible must be respected and called it snooker’s answer to Wimbledon two years on from his scathing criticism of the world championship venue.

In 2024 the Iranian described the Crucible as “smelly” and compared the practice facilities to “like playing in a garage”.

But after last month’s announcement that snooker’s showpiece will https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/24/world-snooker-championship-to-remain-at-crucible-until-at-least-2045-revamp">remain in Sheffield until at least 2045, Vafaei highlighted the importance of the Crucible to the sport.