The World Snooker Championship has been rescheduled to start in July after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, governing body World Snooker Tour (WST) said on Wednesday. 

The sport's premier tournament was scheduled to open in Sheffield last week, but it is now set to run between July 31 and August 16, subject to British government guidelines on the health crisis. 

"The world is going through a very challenging period, but live sport can be a massive inspiration for the public and can boost morale. This gives fans of top-class sport something on their calendar to look ahead to and enjoy for 17 days," WST Chairman Barry Hearn said. 

"The players are self-employed, and they need opportunities to earn while we keep the health and safety of everyone involved in an event of this scale as a priority."

The Crucible Theatre, which hosts the tournament, has a capacity of just under 1,000, but it could be played with a reduced crowd, behind closed doors or even postponed again depending on government advice. 

2010 world champion and world number two Neil Robertson has backed the idea. 

"It's better to be played behind closed doors than nothing because people will be craving and missing live sport by then, and they deserve it," he said. 

"If it is behind closed doors, so be it. It won't be the same, but we have to remind ourselves it is the World Championship."

Top-ranked Judd Trump won last year's edition, thrashing Scotland's John Higgins 18-9 in the final. 

More than 20 Chinese players make up the 128-man tour squad led by world No. 10 Ding Junhui. 

The 33-year-old Ding has won 14 major ranking titles in his career, including three UK Championships. 

(With input from agencies)