{"id":36155,"date":"2021-05-06T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T09:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shefnews.co.uk\/?p=36155"},"modified":"2024-02-01T12:39:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T12:39:40","slug":"sell-out-crowd-attends-government-pilot-event-at-sheffields-crucible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/05\/06\/sell-out-crowd-attends-government-pilot-event-at-sheffields-crucible\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe Won\u2019t Take It for Granted Again\u201d: Sell-Out Crowd Attends Government Pilot Event at Sheffield\u2019s Crucible"},"content":{"rendered":"

SNOOKER fans once again assembled to the sport\u2019s spiritual home as the annual World Championship at Sheffield\u2019s 980-seat Crucible Theatre drew to a close on Monday night.<\/p>\n

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The Empty Crucible Theatre<\/p><\/div>\n

With a sell-out crowd and no social distancing measures during the tense Grand Final match between Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy, for those taking part, it was like walking on-stage for the very first time again.<\/p>\n

Ben Williams, a professional snooker referee who has officiated at the Crucible since 2018, said: \u201cEven the top professionals who perform to the crowd haven\u2019t seen this many people for months.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we walked out there, and everyone applauded, I instantly got that buzz that we\u2019ve not felt in such a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The World Championship was the first sporting event in 2021 to be held in-front of spectators because of lockdown restrictions.<\/p>\n

[metaslider id=”36157″]<\/p>\n

During an intense 16 days of competition, the audience certainly helped to enhance the atmosphere, but for Ben, it\u2019s their fondness for the sport which was the most humbling to witness.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cPeople have grown closer to snooker over the past 12 months \u2013 it\u2019s all that was on TV during lockdown!”<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a small crowd, they made so much noise. You get absorbed into the atmosphere, and is what makes me think, \u2018that\u2019s why we do it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n