Ronnie O'Sullivan would welcome a return to Barnsley next year if the English Open stays in the town after a successful week at the Metrodome.
More than 2,000 spectators watched 128 of the world's best players over six days, culminating in O'Sullivan's 9-2 success over Kyren Wilson in Sunday's final. The five-time world champion has played at the Metrodome in the past for qualifying events but was impressed by the way the venue adapted to its first major tournament.
Ronnie told the Chronicle: "It's a different place. We come here for the qualifiers and it's like: 'wow, what's going on here?' But they have got the set-up really right. They have got the two main tables then others tucked away somewhere. It's like the tennis at Wimbledon. I am comparing Wimbledon to Barnsley, and you can't get a better compliment than that.
"It should be a template for all the other tournaments and the UK Championships could learn a lot from it. I would absolutely welcome it coming back here next year. It has been great and it's been supported fantastically well."
He added: "South Yorkshire is the home of snooker, with The Crucible in Sheffield as well. Yorkshire people are so nice and it's nice to come here and play in front of some great fans."
Governing body World Snooker is understood to have several possible options for next year's English Open, but the Metrodome is one of them after impressing the organisers and players. Ivan Hirschowitz, head of media for World Snooker, said: "It was a fantastic week at the Metrodome and we're delighted by the support we received from the fans in Barnsley. The feedback from the players in terms of the venue and the arena was very positive. As for next year, we are currently considering options but we are delighted with this year's event."
Beaten finalist Wilson, the world number 15 from Kettering, said: "I think it's been brilliant. The crowds were really good all week. It's a massive difference to when we had the qualifiers in Barnsley and I really enjoyed my week. It was disappointing to lose the final and I could have played a bit better but Ronnie was pretty much at his very best and that is very hard to compete with."
It was an eventful week for O'Sullivan, who injured his ankle while running then threatened to pull out if he was not allowed to play in trainers. A fan then came into the players' area to pot his last black in the third round while he twice accidentally left his cue at the Metrodome on the last two days. He refused to take the Steve Davis Trophy, which he was given for winning the event, home with him because he would have to give it back before next year's tournament.
"I like collecting trophies at my house but only if I can keep them. I would rather not have it at all if I have to give it back. I don't want it."
O'Sullivan was 3-2 up in the final before winning the last six frames in 70 minutes while he missed just six shots across the whole match. He made four centuries in the final, including in the last two frames, taking his tally from the entire event to 12. He saw off John Higgins in the last 16 before beating Jack Lisowski and Anthony McGill who had knocked out big names Judd Trump and Neil Robertson respectively while world champion Mark Selby suffered a shock 4-1 loss to Xiao Guodong in the last 32.
The Metrodome's Richard Bailey said: "It was a massive success. It has taken us ten years to get to the point where we can host television events at that level. We are grateful that World Snooker had faith in us to deliver such a big event and we would love to have them back next year."
Snooker will return to the Metrodome on December 19-22 for the German Masters qualifiers.
