World Snooker Tour boss Barry Hearn insists the Betfred World Championship WILL take place at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins have both raised concerns the event could move down the M1 behind-closed-doors to a workable Milton Keynes hotel bubble.
But Hearn said: “I have to keep certain things the same during this difficult period.
“I’m completely committed to staging it the Crucible. And it’s going to be in April.
“I’m 24/7 working towards delivering the complete story we have grown accustomed to over the past 40 years.
“I have to believe the vaccinations coming in will begin to have an effect.
“I don’t know if the government will say a full or a part-crowd.
“It has to be as close to the original product as possible.
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“I do believe we will be allowed a crowd, subject to health and safety.”
Last month's Masters was switched from Alexandra Palace to Milton Keynes just days before play got underway.
Up to 1,000 tickets per session were sold before Tier 4 and the third lockdown hit.
But the tournament instead took place at Stadium MK's Marshall Arena, which has hosted several tournaments since the pandemic began.
O'Sullivan said during the Masters: "It would be nice to have the crowd back but I don't see that happening for quite a while.
"And I think we will probably end up having the World Championships here at Milton Keynes the way things are going.
"It looks like everything could be behind closed doors and based here, but what can you do?"
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