The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters is a professional snooker ranking tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Organised by the World Snooker Tour, the inaugural event is scheduled to be held from 31 August to 7 September 2024. The tournament will feature a total prize fund of £2,000,000, the second-highest after the World Championship.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Green Halls |
| Location | Riyadh |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Established | 2024 |
| Organisation(s) | World Snooker Tour |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £2,000,000 |
History edit
In February 2024, World Snooker Tour (WST) announced the addition of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters to the calendar, beginning from the 2024–25 season, as part of a ten-year deal. It will be the first ranking tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia, following the non-ranking 2024 World Masters of Snooker event in March. Branded by WST as snooker's "fourth major" alongside the Triple Crown events, the World Championship, UK Championship, and The Masters, the tournament will feature a total prize fund of £2,000,000, the second-highest after the World Championship.[1][2]
Announcement of the non-ranking World Masters of Snooker event was met with criticism from journalists accusing Saudi Arabia of sportswashing.[3][4] However, players welcomed the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters ranking event, lauding its "astronomical" prize fund and the opportunity to promote the sport in the Middle East.[5][6]
Winners edit
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final score | Venue | City | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Green Halls | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2024/25 |
References edit
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: New ranking event announced!". World Snooker Tour. 13 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: New tournament to offer £2m prize fund and become 'fourth major'". BBC Sport. 13 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Meredith, Sam (22 January 2024). "Saudi Arabia's lavish sports push will now embrace snooker — and introduce a new golden ball". CNBC. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "A maximum break of 167? Saudi snooker plans unveil 20-point gold ball". The Guardian. 19 January 2024. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Players welcome Saudi announcement and 'Astronomical' prize pot". World Snooker Tour. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Mark Allen: Northern Irishman 'not getting involved in politics' of Saudi tournament". BBC Sport. 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
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