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The World Snooker Tour declares the introduction of a snooker tournament in Saudi Arabia, featuring a golden ball worth 20 points
The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker has been announced, marking the introduction of snooker to Saudi Arabia. The event is scheduled to take place at Boulevard Arena in Boulevard City, Riyadh, from March 4-6, as part of the Riyadh Season, which has already hosted various top-class sporting events. World Snooker has confirmed the participation of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Luca Brecel, with the 10-player field set to compete.
The agreement for the tournament was negotiated by Eng. Faisal Bafarat, CEO of GEA, and Steve Dawson, chairman of World Snooker Tour. The announcement took place in the presence of HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh, along with sports promoters Eddie Hearn and Barry Hearn. HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh expressed excitement about hosting the first-ever professional snooker tournament in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the global appeal of snooker and the opportunity to showcase the country during Riyadh Season.
Judd Trump, the 2019 world champion, shared his enthusiasm for snooker expanding to new locations, citing the recent success in China and the positive impact of exhibitions in various places. He praised Saudi Arabia’s interest in getting involved in the sport and welcomed the opportunity to participate in the upcoming event.
Steve Dawson expressed his appreciation for the collaboration between the World Snooker Tour and HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh in organizing an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time. He sees this as a significant breakthrough, marking the start of a new chapter for snooker in the region. The anticipation is high for the event during Riyadh Season, featuring the world’s top players. Bringing the sport to Riyadh is considered an honor, providing local fans with the opportunity to witness snooker legends in action.
While adhering to World Snooker rules, the announcement introduced an intriguing addition: the “Riyadh Season ball,” a 23rd ball worth 20 points. This unique concept allows the gold ball to be potted only after clearing all other balls from the table during a maximum break, adding a twist to the traditional rules.
Eddie Hearn confirmed that the field would consist of eight snooker stars and two wildcards, with a substantial prize fund of $1 million (£787,000).
