RIYADH: The inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters snooker tournament being staged in Riyadh has been hailed by one of the world's leading players as a milestone for the sport in the Middle East.
The tournament, which will run until Sept. 7 at the Green Halls venue, is the first ranking event held in the Kingdom, with high-stakes showdowns featuring 144 of the world’s best players.
Billed as “The Battle on the Baize,” the nine-day competition gives participants the opportunity to claim vital ranking points and $3 million (SR11.3 million) in prize money, as well as the chance to win a coveted new WST title in the early stages of the 2024-25 season.
The event also provides the greatest cueists on the planet with a platform to win one of the sport’s “major” championships — the most prestigious titles a player can win in their career.
Since 1977, the UK Championship, Masters, and World Championship have formed snooker’s Triple Crown, reigning as the sport’s three major championships. Now, the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has become snooker’s fourth major — a move welcomed by the World Snooker Tour’s biggest names.
Among them is the Australian star Neil Robertson, one of only 11 men to have completed the Triple Crown, and the only player from outside the UK to accomplish this feat to date.
The six-time major winner endorsed the decision Ito launch the event by revealing the positive reaction and reception from the WST players.
“For all sports to evolve, you need to welcome change, and staging a major championship at the start of the new season is brilliant,” said Robertson. “The prize money and ranking points available replicate those on offer at the world championship and as players, we’ve absolutely welcomed this.”
With the major events held in November, January, and April each year, Robertson believes the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters taking place in early September is a great addition to the tour.
“The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters is a huge event, and staging it early on in the new season gives everyone a great opportunity to move in the rankings where that’s not usually the case until later in the year. It’s a welcome change of pace,” he said.
“Having a major event here – where the conditions and facilities are as good as they are – I think the fans will see a fantastic brand of snooker that replicates that of the other majors. You usually see the highest quality of snooker during the majors and I’m sure this will be the same over the next week.”
As the pinnacle annual series in snooker, the WST has morphed into a global competition in recent years, expanding from the UK into mainland Europe and Asia. With an international fanbase exceeding 500 million, coverage now includes more than 200 countries, while the 2024-25 season encompasses 21 events, including 13 in the UK and six in China.
For Robertson, the Saudi tournament could well be the start of the sport’s growth, development, and expansion in the Middle East.
Confirmed for the next decade, the event is the result of a commitment by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport, Saudi Arabian Billiards and Snooker Federation, and Matchroom Sport to develop snooker nationally and regionally over the next decade.
The future potential is something that excites the Australian player.
“Usually, you need a flagbearer to get it all started in terms of breaking into new territories,” said Robertson, the most successful player ever from outside the UK with 23 ranking event wins.
“We’ve been everywhere else all around the world, but the Middle East is a market we’ve not really broken through yet, so it’s a great opportunity.
“Saudi Arabia is doing lots of positive things surrounding sport. We’ve seen the opportunities the Kingdom is creating for its population in line with Vision 2030, and by hosting events across football, F1, boxing, esports, and so on.
“Coming here and seeing the practice facilities, the area, and how fantastic everything is set up bodes really well for the future.
“The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has created a lot of interest, and it’s really up to us as players now to put on a good show and propel snooker in the Middle East. We’ve come to a place where the facilities and the conditions are perfect to do so.”
