YORK likes snooker and snooker likes York.

This happy relationship has been illustrated by the success of the UK Snooker Championship, which has had four tremendous years at the York Barbican Centre.

All the leading players are said to enjoy visiting York. They appreciate the facilities at the Barbican, the knowledgeable crowds, friendly atmosphere and the city itself.

So any chance that York could host the World Snooker Championships is sure to generate great excitement. The world title is up for grabs because Sheffield's Crucible Theatre may not be able to hold on to the tournament it has hosted for 27 years.

Six cities, believed to be Sheffield, Preston, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle/Gateshead, are thought to have already expressed an interest in hosting the world championships.

Now Absolute Leisure, which is taking over ownership of the Barbican Centre, may make a bid to World Snooker. Managing director Tony Knox says he is "very interested" in the possibility of staging the tournament.

If he could pull this off, it would be a great coup for York. The city would have many advantages, not least a good track record in staging the UK Snooker Championship, which is second only to the World Championships.

Not everything is rosy on the snooker front, because a mishandled application for a late-night drinks licence has put next year's UK Snooker Tournament in some doubt. Thanks to a delay before the next possible hearing, work at the complex could be put back.

But hopefully these problems will be ironed out and York can look to both the UK championships and an ever bigger prize.

Updated: 10:08 Wednesday, December 01, 2004