Fans 'expected to be allowed in' to World Snooker final at Sheffield's Crucible

Fans are expected to be allowed into Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre to watch the World Snooker Championship Final, according to reports.
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BBC Sport has said that it understands some spectators will be allowed in for this weekend’s two day final.

The government is set to announce shortly that the programme of pilots, which were paused at the end of July, can resume from this weekend.

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That means the Crucible could welcome around 300 fans for the final two days.

Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.
Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.

The World Snooker Championship became the first indoor live sports event to have crowds since lockdown, allowing some supporters in for the three sessions on 31 July.

However, no more fans have been allowed to watch live sport since 1 August because of a spike in cases that led to all pilots being called off, including Glorious Goodwood and county cricket at The Oval and Edgbaston.

Five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan previously criticised the decision to allow fans into the arena, saying it created an "unnecessary risk", while qualifier Anthony Hamilton, who suffers from severe asthma, withdrew on the eve of the tournament.

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It has not yet been confirmed how many fans will be permitted to attend on Saturday and Sunday, but seating plans had been devised that would enable audience members only to sit directly next to people who they purchased tickets with and were members of the same household groups.

Such arrangements would enable a metre of space between people from separate bubbles.

Fans were told to wear masks while walking around the venue but could remove it while watching the action.

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