May 8th 2024.
Ray Stubbs is overjoyed to once again be a part of the Seniors events, as he returns to the iconic Crucible venue to present the World Seniors Snooker Championship. He is excited to witness the 'power and majesty' of the venue once again, as it holds a special place in his heart.
Stubbs has been a familiar face on BBC's snooker coverage in the 2000s, but his connection with the sport goes way back to the 80s, where he worked behind the scenes. After leaving the BBC in 2009, he found himself back in the snooker world, this time at the legendary home of the sport in Sheffield.
"It's a great opportunity," Stubbs shared with Metro. "I thought I had retired from broadcasting, but when the chance to work on the Seniors Darts came along, I couldn't resist. And now, to be back at the Crucible is just fantastic."
The Crucible holds a special place in Stubbs' heart, as he reminisced about his early days working there as an assistant producer. "I remember cutting the musical sequences in one of those big grey vans back in the late 80s. If you recall the clips with The Entertainer, I was part of the BBC's production team behind them."
He then went on to work in the presentation team in the 2000s, and now he's back at the iconic venue that holds so many powerful memories for him. "I love the Crucible. It's an awe-inspiring place. I used to walk around it when it was empty, and you could just sense all the memories we've watched over the years floating around."
Stubbs also shared his experience of working alongside the legends of the BBC's snooker coverage. "I used to be so nervous walking into the arena, trying to string a few sentences together. But the players would come out and perform with such precision and accuracy in that unique Crucible atmosphere. It's definitely one of the top sporting venues out there."
There has been talk of the World Snooker Championship leaving the Crucible when the current contract expires in 2027, but Stubbs is not in favor of that idea. "Personally, I think it would be a mistake. When you walk into the Crucible, you can feel the intensity. The most nerve-wracking experience for me in broadcasting was standing backstage on the final night, waiting for the final ball to be potted so I could go and interview the champion and runner-up."
The 67-year-old shared that he has fond memories of his previous time in snooker, even when big names in the sport would mock his skills on the table. "One of my favorite memories is from one of the last times I was there. During downtime, I would go and hit a few balls around in the practice rooms. Little did I know that Mark Williams was playing in the room next door. He suddenly appeared, and I could tell he was trying not to laugh. He told me I had the worst bridge hand in the history of snooker."
Stubbs also recalled a hilarious incident where Williams called over a group of former world champions to watch and comment on his bridge hand. "They all joined in, dissecting my hand and giving their opinions. It was like a coaching clinic! But moments like these add to the charm of the Crucible and make it such a unique place."
As the World Seniors Snooker Championship kicks off, Stubbs is excited to be part of the action once again. After leaving the BBC, he worked with ESPN, BT Sport, and talkSPORT before the pandemic hit. He thought his broadcasting career had come to an end, but his role with the Seniors Darts and Snooker has brought him back into the game, and he couldn't be happier.
"I see everything as chapters, and when the pandemic hit, it felt like the perfect time to slow down a bit. I wasn't sure if I had retired or if broadcasting had retired me, but it seemed like it was someone else's turn. However, the Seniors Darts and Snooker have shown that sports fans are loyal and have a great memory. They grew up with these legends, and it's still amazing to see them perform."
Don't miss the World Seniors Snooker Championship, live on Channel 5 from 8-12 May, as Stubbs and the rest of the team bring you all the action from the iconic Crucible Theatre. And who knows, we might just witness a new champion emerge, just like Kyren Wilson did when he won the World Snooker Championship.
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