Sheffield City Council (SCC) and World Snooker have agreed a new deal that will ensure the Betfred.com World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible Theatre until 2014.

Yorkshire Forward and Welcome to Yorkshire, the rebranded Yorkshire Tourist Board, have supported the five-year agreement, which also includes an option to extend the contract by an extra year. The Crucible has become synonymous with snooker since it first staged the event in 1977, and the Sheffield's strong links with the sport have resulted in the creation of the World Snooker Academy at the English Institute of Sport.

Sir Rodney Walker, chair of World Snooker, said: "Sheffield has, over the years, consistently demonstrated a genuine desire to retain and develop further its status as the UK’s snooker city. We acknowledge openly the enthusiasm and ongoing support Sheffield provides for the development and promotion of the sport."