Fans Will Be Allowed Into The Crucible Theatre This Weekend For The Final Of The World Snooker Championship.

The government has announced that the programme of pilots, which were paused at the end of July, can resume from this weekend.

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

If the pilots are a success the government says it could lead to other sports venues being opened to socially-distanced fans from October 1st.

More pilot events are due to be announced in the coming days, involving both indoor and outdoor sports.

"We are delighted to announce that a reduced crowd will be welcomed to all sessions of the final of the World Championship on Saturday and Sunday,"

"The piloting of a small number of sporting events to test the safe return of spectators will resume from August 15th with a view to reopening competition venues for sports fans, with social distancing measures in place from 1 October," the government said in a statement.

"This will commence with the final of the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre during August 15th and 16th, with a full pilot programme to follow."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: "We can now make further careful progress on recovery with allowing audiences back for indoor performances, fans back at sports events and the reopening of more Covid-19 secure leisure businesses."

Fans have not been allowed to watch live sport since August 1st 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.

However, this is positive news and the stadia are ready to safely welcome fans slowly back through the gates!