- Inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will see world’s best cueists competing in all-new event in August
- Snooker’s all-time greatest player Ronnie O’Sullivan headlines star-studded field to compete in Riyadh
Fans in Riyadh will have the chance to see the greatest snooker players on the planet playing in a huge new tournament when the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters takes place from 30th August to 7th September 2024 in the capital.
Tickets for this outstanding event in Green Halls, Riyadh are now on sale and fans are encouraged to book fast. For all ticket details, fans can visit: https://webook.com/en/snooker-masters-2024
Snooker’s all-time greatest player Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competing for the trophy, alongside world number one Mark Allen, World Champion Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, John Higgins and many more of snooker’s biggest stars. In total there will be 144 players in the draw, including 17 wild cards from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
The event is part of an exciting legacy commitment with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation, aiming to develop snooker and pool in the region over next decade.
Saudi Arabia Billiards & Snooker Federation President, Dr Nasser Saab Al-Shammari, said “The Kingdom is a destination for hosting the world’s biggest international sports events. We are thrilled to host a tournament of this stature in the sport, which is attended by many international stars, whose participation will contribute to the exchange of experiences between the participating players, entertain audiences around the world, and develop Saudi talent in the game of snooker.”
Steve Dawson, Chairman of WST, said: “We are thrilled to bring a world ranking event to Saudi Arabia for the first time, and this is a massive event for the players with the biggest prize money for any tournament other than the World Championship. The all-time greats will be determined to go all the way to the trophy.
“For fans in the region who have not watched snooker live before, it is an incredible experience. The skills of the best players cannot be matched in any other sport, and the drama of snooker always creates an intense atmosphere. This event is not to be missed for anyone who loves sport.
“Working alongside our partners we will ensure a fantastic experience for the fans at the venue. Book tickets fast and enjoy the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters!”
Former World Champion Shaun Murphy, who reached the final of the recent Shanghai Masters, said: “I am thrilled that we now have a ranking event in Riyadh for the whole tour. I am fully behind it and looking forward to being a part of it. Hopefully the success of these events will bring in other countries and help snooker to grow throughout the Middle East.
“I was at the Riyadh Season event in March, we had a great time and were looked after really well. I’m sure this ranking event will be the same. People in Saudi Arabia obviously love sport and it was great to see the enthusiasm of the fans. For all the players to have this opportunity highlights what an incredible time this is to be a pro.”
The tournament gets underway on Friday August 30th. The world’s top 16 players will be in action from Tuesday September 3rd, with the thrilling final set for Saturday September 7th.
Round one: Seeds 81-112 v seeds 113-144 (August 30th)
Round two: Those 32 winners v seeds 49 -80 (August 31st)
Round three: Those 32 winners v seeds 17-48 (September 1st)
Round four: Those 32 winners play each other (September 2nd)
Round five: Those 16 winners v seeds 1-16 in the last 32 (September 3rd)
Saudi Arabia has become one of the fastest growing countries in the sport sector, experiencing significant growth in participation, event hosting, and sporting infrastructure development. Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a top-tier host for some of the biggest global sports events welcoming over 2.6 million enthusiastic sports fans to witness world-class events.
