Riyadh will host the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters from August 31 to September 7; This new event will be the ‘fourth major’ on the World Snooker Tour schedule, following the World Championship, Masters, and UK Championship.
Later this year, Saudi Arabia will host its first-ever ranking snooker tournament. The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will have a prize purse over £2 million.
This places the tournament as the ‘fourth major’ behind the World Championship, UK Championship, and Masters, the traditional triple crown, according to the World Snooker Tour. It is the second-highest prize money event after the World Championship.
The tournament, which will be held in Riyadh from August 31 to September 7 and is accessible to all 128 tour players plus six local wildcards, has reached a 10-year agreement.
The world’s top eight players will compete in the non-ranking Riyadh Season World Masters in March. A new ‘golden ball’ will be used in this event, potentially raising the maximum break to 167.
Jeddah will host the World Pool Championship this year from June 3–8.
Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, stated: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established a reputation for expansion and for generating fresh chances for sports to flourish in a new market to new fans.
“In recent years, the nation has played host to some of the biggest athletic events in the globe, drawing tourists from all over the world who come to experience its love of sports and distinctive culture.
“That will be further enhanced over the following ten years with the advent of the World Pool Championship and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, which mark the beginning of an exciting new age for both snooker and nine-ball pool.
“We’ve witnessed the amazing influence boxing has had on this area. I think pool will now solidify its legacy here as well, offering amazing chances and fierce competition for the world’s best players.”
When Ronnie O’Sullivan goes for a record-tying eighth World Championship title later this year, he will have the opportunity to win all three Triple Crown tournaments in the same season for the first time. O’Sullivan won the UK Championship in December and the Masters a month later.
