The BBC will continue to broadcast three of snooker’s biggest tournaments until the end of 2018/19 season.

Extending the current agreement by two years, the new deal will see the corporation continue as host TV broadcaster of the World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters – three events known collectively as the Triple Crown – in a deal reportedly worth more than £6.5 million.

Recent cuts and high-profile losses to its sports rights portfolio, including Formula 1, Open Championship golf, darts and exclusivity of Six Nations rugby, had put snooker’s long association with the BBC in some doubt.

But with the corporation surrendering its F1 rights to Channel 4 as part of a drive to save £35 million and help plug a £150 million licence-fee deficit, snooker has been spared the axe.