The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker is set to make history as the first World Snooker Tour event ever to be held in Saudi Arabia. This exciting new tournament will showcase ten of the world’s finest snooker players, along with two wild card entries and a thrilling addition called the ‘golden ball.’
A New Era for Snooker in Saudi Arabia
The top ten players in the official world rankings at the conclusion of the Players Championship will automatically qualify for the tournament. In addition to these automatic qualifiers, two wild cards will join the competition, creating a formidable 12-player field. Reigning World Snooker Championship winner, Luca Brecel, will lead the pack as the top seed. The likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Mark Selby will also be vying for the prestigious title.
On social media, Ronnie O’Sullivan expressed his excitement about the tournament, stating, “Very excited to be playing in the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker! Can’t wait to get out there and play in Saudi Arabia for the first time!”
Tournament Details
The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker will kick off on Monday, March 4, and conclude on Wednesday, March 6. The Boulevard City in Riyadh will play host to this thrilling event.
Live Broadcast and Streaming
Snooker enthusiasts can catch all the action on Eurosport, which will be broadcasting the tournament live. Subscribers of Eurosport can also stream the event through the discovery+ app/website. Alternatively, you can stay up to date with the tournament through SunSport’s live blog.
Unleashing the Golden Ball
The tournament will adhere to the World Snooker rules and regulations, with one exciting twist. A special new ball, known as the Riyadh Season ball, will be in play. This unique ball is worth an incredible 20 points and can only be potted once all the other balls have been cleared from the table. If a player successfully achieves this feat and reaches a maximum break of 167, they will set a world record and walk away with a staggering £400k prize.
According to World Snooker Tour, each frame will begin with the Gold Ball on the baulk cushion, level with the brown spot. Players must avoid accidentally potting or hitting the Gold Ball before hitting the object ball, as it will result in a four-point foul. The Gold Ball will remain on the table as long as a player has the opportunity to make a maximum break of 147. Once a maximum break is no longer possible, the Gold Ball is taken off the table until the next frame.
The Players to Watch
The formidable lineup for the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker includes some of the biggest names in the sport, such as:
- Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Judd Trump
- Mark Allen
- Luca Brecel
- Mark Selby
- Shaun Murphy
- Mark Williams
- Ali Carter
- John Higgins
- Ding Junhui
- Omar Alajlani (Wild Card)
- Ali Abobaidli (Wild Card)
A Spectacular Prize Pool
The tournament boasts a total prize pool of $1 million (approximately £789,000), confirmed by Eddie Hearn. A maximum break of 167 will earn a player a staggering £400k. Here is a breakdown of the prize money distribution:
- Winner: £250,000
- Runner-up: £125,000
- Semi-finals: £75,000
- Quarter-finals: £50,000
- Round one: £25,000
- Preliminary round: £5,000
The Schedule for an Epic Snooker Showdown
Prepare for four action-packed days of snooker brilliance:
Monday, March 4 – Round 1:
- Ding Junhui 4-0 Omar Alajlani – 2pm
- John Higgins 4-0 Ali Alobaidli – 3pm
- Ali Carter 4-3 Ding Junhui – 7pm
- Mark Williams 2-4 John Higgins – 8pm
Tuesday, March 5 – Quarter-finals:
- Mark Allen vs Mark Selby – 2pm
- Luca Brecel vs Ali Carter – 3pm
- Judd Trump vs Shaun Murphy – 7pm
- Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins – 8pm
Wednesday, March 6 – Semi-finals:
- Winner Of Match 5 vs Winner Of Match 6 – 2pm
- Winner Of Match 7 vs Winner Of Match 8 – 3pm
Wednesday, March 6 – Final:
- Winner Of Match 9 vs Winner Of Match 10 – 7pm
An Exciting Snooker Extravaganza in Saudi Arabia
HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh expressed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to be hosting our first-ever professional snooker tournament in the Kingdom. Snooker is watched and played by millions around the world, and we look forward to welcoming some of the greatest players and snooker fans to our country and showing them what Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season has to offer.”
Matchroom COO Steve Dawson also shared his enthusiasm, saying, “It is a great privilege for the World Snooker Tour to work in partnership with HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh to stage an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time. This is a huge breakthrough for snooker into a new territory, and we see this as the beginning of a new adventure for our sport in the region. We are looking forward to being a part of Riyadh Season and this fantastic new event featuring the world’s best players. We will be honored to bring our sport to the amazing city of Riyadh, and for the local fans, this will be their first chance to see some of snooker’s all-time greats.”
For more details and updates about the event, visit F5mag.com.
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