Snooker’s first ever pro tournament in Saudi Arabia was fittingly won by the sport’s all-time greatest player as Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Luca Brecel 5-2 in the final of the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
The event was a landmark for the sport as the best players on the planet competed in the Kingdom for the first time. It is hoped that they will inspire a wave of interest in snooker throughout the Middle East, and O’Sullivan lived up to his role as flag-bearer by going all the way to the title, winning a final clash between the world number one and World Champion.
The event included the innovation of a golden ball, giving players the chance to make a unique break of 167 and earn a bonus of $500,000. The ‘super-maximum’ was not achieved, but HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced that in the next staging of the event, the bonus will be doubled to $1,000,000. He also raised the idea of a Ronnie O’Sullivan academy in Saudi Arabia.
O’Sullivan said: “It has been a fantastic tournament, a brilliant venue, the crowd have been amazing. All the players have enjoyed the culture and hospitality. These are the tournaments I really want to play in, with a great atmosphere. It feels like a really nice festival. Riyadh Season has a lot of the best sport – everyone needs to get to Saudi! You want to try to make the sport as big as you can and Saudi is a powerhouse.”
Victory builds on what could end up a career-best season for O’Sullivan, who retains the Midas touch at the age of 48 and has now won five titles in 2023/24. The £250,000 top prize takes his tally for the season to £1,141,500, beating Judd Trump’s record of £1,093,900 for the most earned in a single campaign. And that’s with three huge tournaments still to come, including the Cazoo World Championship where he will be gunning for an eighth crown.
Brecel had hoped to win his first title since conquering the Crucible last May, but a crucial error in frame four – when he had the momentum – proved decisive. The Belgian, who banks £125,000, can take consolation in the knowledge that his game is improving as he looks towards his title defence in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan took the opening frame with a break of 96, then Brecel dominated the second before going ahead with a run of 81. In frame four, Brecel led 29-0 when he missed the black off its spot, and his opponent punished him with a 94 clearance.
Brecel failed to score a point after the interval as O’Sullivan reeled off three rapid frames with top breaks of 121 and 124 to win the 79th professional title of his career.
O’Sullivan added: “I wanted to do well in this event, just to be a part of it was great. I started really well against John Higgins, that was one of my best performances. I struggled in the semi-finals against Judd Trump but then played better in the final. I felt very relaxed and laid back here because they take life at a leisurely pace. It was great to hear the fans chanting my name at the end and I can’t wait to come back.
“They love the game here, are talking about an academy and getting some good coaches. If there are youngsters playing the game then we could have a Saudi World Champion in 20 years. It’s good for snooker.”
Brecel said: “It has been a fantastic few days, the crowd were great. Everyone was excited to come here and we hope the event will be here for a long time.”
Pictures by Zhai Zheng (@zhaizhengqd)
Some personal thoughts about the event… First of all, the local’s the interest in snooker seems to be genuine and bigger than I thought. The crowds over the week-end were indeed excellent. The fact that Eddie Hearn made the trip is a clear sign that Matchroom is interested in organising more events there as it is indeed a powerhouse in sports, wether we like it or not. How much snooker is actually appreciated will be clear when next year ranking event is held in Riyadh. WST also shared some images of the players mixing with the fans in the fanzone.
There were a few women in the crowd, not many though. Some were probably tourists, or resident “westerners” and were dressed casually but decently. Being respectful of the locals is only normal and correct. There were very few local women in sight. They were in traditional attires, wearing scarfs and long dresses that covered them entirely (hijab). I didn’t see any woman in niqab though, and the some of young women I spotted in the crowd, had hair showing under their veil and were wearing make-up. As much as I disapprove of the Saudi regime, I want to hope that hosting big sporting events, attracting dozens of thousands of sports-loving tourists of both genders may eventually force a change in mentality – and laws – be it about women’s social status and role or about homosexuality. Even if it’s driven by lust for money, that would be something positive …
And some videos shared by Eurosport on their Youtube channel…
We are delighted to announce the latest provisional calendar for the 2024/2025 World Snooker Tour season, with a packed schedule around the globe, including the brand new Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
The schedule is still to be finalised, with a number of further dates for 2025 to be confirmed when available. The calendar will be updated in due course.
MAY 20th to June 2nd – Q School – Morningside Arena, Leicester 20th to June 2nd – Asia/Oceania Q School
JUNE 10th to 15th – Championship League Snooker 1 17th to 22nd – Championship League Snooker 224th to 29th- Championship League Snooker 3
JULY Dates TBC – Shanghai Masters – Shanghai, China 1st to 3rd – Championship League Snooker 4 25th to August 3rd – Qualifiers: Xian Grand Prix, English Open, Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – Morningside Arena, Leicester
AUGUST 19th to 25th – Xi’an Grand Prix – Xi’an, China 26th to 29th – Qualifiers: Wuhan Open, British Open – Morningside Arena, Leicester 31st to September 7th – Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
SEPTEMBER 16th to 22nd – English Open – Brentwood Centre, Brentwood 23rd to 29th – British Open – The Centaur, Cheltenham 28th to 30th – Qualifiers: Northern Ireland Open – Ponds Forge, Sheffield
OCTOBER 1st to 4th – Qualifiers: International Championship – Ponds Forge, Sheffield 7th to 13th – Wuhan Open – Wuhan, China 20th to 27th – Northern Ireland Open – Waterfront Hall, Belfast 28th to 31st – Qualifiers: Scottish Open – Cannon Medical Arena, Sheffield
NOVEMBER 3rd to 10th – International Championship – Tianjin, China 11th to 17th – Champion of Champions 16th to 21st – Qualifiers: UK Championship – Morningside Arena, Leicester 23rd to December 1st – UK Championship – York Barbican, York
DECEMBER 4th to 7th – Shoot Out – Morningside Arena, Leicester 9th to 15th – Scottish Open – Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh 16th to 22nd – Qualifiers: German Masters and World Open – Cannon Medical Arena, Leicester
JANUARY 12th to 19th – Masters – Alexandra Palace, London 27th to February 2nd – German Masters – Tempodrom, Berlin
MARCH 3rd to 9th – World Open – China 17th to 23rd – Players Championship – Telford, England
APRIL 19th to May 5th – Cazoo World Championship – Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
One thing that hasn’t changed unfortunately is the “all qualifiers played in the UK system”. That HAS to change. Qualifiers MUST be scrapped or played near the event venue, right before the event. You don’t have qualifiers for Roland Garros or Wimbledon played played weeks or even months before the events and in a different country do you? (and, yes there ARE qualifiers for the tennis majors, three rounds of them, played just days before the events and near or at the main venue location).
Ronnie O’Sullivan rattled in three centuries as he thumped old rival John Higgins 4-0 at the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, a result which sets up an epic concluding day with the top four players on the planet into the semi-finals.
The first ever WST event in Saudi Arabia will be played to a finish on Wednesday, with O’Sullivan taking on Judd Trump and Mark Allen facing Luca Brecel in the semi-finals, followed by the final in the evening.
O’Sullivan, still ranked world number one at the age of 48, has already won the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship, the Masters and World Grand Prix this season, and if he reaches the final tomorrow his prize money for the season will go into seven figures.
Despite the match starting at 1.48am, O’Sullivan looked wide awake as he made breaks of 135, 129 and 102 to lead 3-0. He had the chance to make four consecutive centuries for the first time in his career, but broke down on 82 in the fourth. A bamboozled Higgins failed to pot a ball in the four frames – his only points coming from a foul at the start of the third.
Trump edged out Shaun Murphy 4-3 in a superb contest, which Murphy looked likely to win until a crucial error in frame six. Trump has won four ranking events this season and will relish the chance to capture the £250,000 top prize.
Murphy made a sizzling start with breaks of 126 and 121 to lead 2-0, before Trump won a battle on the last red on the third, then made a 75 in the next for 2-2. World number six Murphy made an 82 to regain the lead, then he was on 58 in the sixth when his attempted pot on a short range red clipped another red and missed the target. Trump’s excellent 58-clearance made it 3-3.
In the decider, Trump made 41 before missing a red with the rest, then Murphy replied with 22. Bristol’s Trump got the better of a safety exchange and added 28 which proved enough.
“Shaun played so well, it’s a great win for me,“ said world number two Trump. “It looked all over until he missed that red at 3-2. It was a great atmosphere out there, especially when I walked in, I felt happy out there and it brought best out of both of us. I’m excited about tomorrow, it feels like a free shot.”
Allen edged out Mark Selby 4-3 in a strong contender for the most dramatic finish to a match this season. Northern Ireland’s Allen has bagged three titles already in 2023/24 and has arguably eclipsed Selby as the sport’s toughest match-player.
Selby went 2-0 up with a top break of 84, then Allen pulled one back with a 73, and led 62-0 in frame four, only for his opponent to pinch it with a 63 clearance for 3-1. Selby had clear match winning chances in the next two frames but twice missed the black off its spot, and was punished as Allen took one with a 65 clearance the other by potting the last blue and pink.
In the decider, Selby led by 45 points with two reds left, but couldn’t get past the post and it came down to the last pink and black. Allen was trapped behind the black, with the pink over a top corner, and played the cue ball off the baulk cushion to drop in the pink, then converted a tremendous double on the black to a centre pocket.
“The match had everything, it was destined to go to the last black,” said world number three Allen. “I had no choice on the final pink but to go for it. Then on the black I was always going to go out swinging and go for the double. To see it go in was a big relief.
“If you are going to learn from anyone then Mark is one of the best. If I can take parts of Mark’s game and bring them into my own then I am doing something right.
“The fans here deserved a match like that and they really got involved. The crowd has grown as the day has gone on and hopefully it will be packed tomorrow.“
World Champion Brecel looks to be coming into form as he builds towards his Crucible defence, and the Belgian looked sharp in a 4-1 win over Ali Carter.
Pictures by Zhai Zheng (@zhaizhengqd)
Ronnie really went on the rampage there … it was a complete demolition job. John’s only 4 points came from a foul…
Eurosport shared a few videos on their Youtube channel:
Just one note from me here. Ronnie says in one of those pieces that he likes the culture. I’m lucky to know Ronnie personally and I want to make it clear that he doesn’t at all condone women’s oppression, nor violence against them. He’s not that sort of man and he has the most genuine admiration for women who juggle between caring for their family and kids and having a job and who still find time for others as well… like his own mother. I once heard him say this to a fellow snooker player who went about “male superiority”: “Mate, the women… they so much better than us, so much stronger than us … they’re unbelievable, mate.”
No … what he likes is that in those countries, is that there is still a sense of community: people chatting on the streets while all the kids play around, huge family meals, neighbours gathering for a chat … AND the “non-drinking” culture.
John Higgins came within seven pots of becoming the first player to make a break of 167, during a 4-2 win over Mark Williams on the opening day of the new Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
This event is a landmark in snooker history, the first professional tournament staged in Saudi Arabia. It includes the innovation of a golden ball, known as the Riyadh Season ball, and the first player to pot it after making a maximum 147 will win a huge $500,000 bonus.
Higgins got pulses racing in the opening frame against Williams when he potted all 15 reds with blacks. But his attempted position on the yellow rolled a few inches too far, and he failed to convert a near-impossible ultra thin cut to a baulk corner.
The next two frames were shared, then Williams had a chance to level at 2-2 but missed a tricky red on 32, and his opponent punished him with an excellent 77. Welshman Williams kept his hopes alive with a classy 122, and had first chance in frame six but could only make 16, and Higgins sealed the result with a break of 64, setting up a massive clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan on Tuesday night.
Asked about the 167 attempt, world number ten Higgins replied: “It was an incredible feeling, I couldn’t feel my arms or legs. I gave it a good go, but it was disappointing in the end. I’m delighted to win two matches today though and get through to play Ronnie. That’s always special, and it will be great to play him here in Saudi.”
There was double delight for Ali Carter as he was reunited with his cue, then beat Ding Junhui 4-3 in a dramatic finish to reach the quarter-finals.
Carter arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday only to find that – for the first time in his 28-year career – his cue had gone missing in transit. After an anxious wait, he got the call to confirm that the cue was safe, and it was back in his hands in time for today’s battle with Ding at the Global Theatre in Riyadh’s spectacular Boulevard City.
China’s Ding took the opening frame with a 138 total clearance, then Carter hit back to take the next three with a top break of 94. In the fifth, the Englishman led 37-0 when he missed a routine black, and that looked like a turning point as Ding made 75 and 120 for 3-3.
Carter looked in control of the decider when he led 60-0 with three reds left, but Ding got the snookers he needed on the last red, and had a chance to clear the colours. He potted a difficult thin cut on the green, only for the cue ball to flick off the blue and drop into a centre pocket. Carter potted green and brown to seal it.
The Captain is now guaranteed £50,000 and will face World Champion Luca Brecel on Tuesday.
“It was an unbelievable match to be involved in, great that it was so close and great for me to be the one to get through,” said world number eight Carter. “After I missed the black at 3-1 I thought I was going to lose, but I convinced myself to keep going for shots.
“When my cue went missing yesterday, the promoter and everyone were doing their best to get it back. I was in the hotel and got some sleep, thinking there was nothing more I could do. Then I got a call in the evening to say I had it back.
“I’m really looking forward to the match tomorrow. Luca is coming back to somewhere near his best. He has probably enjoyed being World Champion more than anyone, but now he has realised he has got to get back to business.“
Earlier, in the preliminary round, Higgins and Ding both enjoyed comfortable 4-0 victories over the local wild cards. Ding beat eight-time Saudi Arbian national champion Omar Alajlani with a top run of 66, while Higgins got the better of Qatar’s top player Ali Alobaidli with top breaks of 53, 117 and 80.
And a few personal thoughts…
Ok the arena is big but there are A LOT of empty seats. Who claimed it was sold out?
When the first noises came out about a tournament in Saudi, Barry Hearn was quick to say that female referees would be welcome and wear their usual attire. Ok, Tatiana wasn’t wearing a scarf, unlike the women in the crowd,, but she was still wearing a very “loose” outfit that didn’t reveal much about her feminine shape as well as a t-shirt under her shirt, completely covering even a hint of her cleavage.
Jack Lisowski’s “Sheik” outfit is ridiculous.
Other than Higgins none of the players appeared to really try hard for the 167. Their priority was clearly to win their match. Well done to them.
The two wildcard played better than I expected. OK, they didn’t win a frame, but they played some good stuff, Ali Alobaidli in particular.
The golden ball brings nothing to the match, it’s just a bait … an incentive to get the players try for a 147 in every frame. Although, the big prize money is only for the first who makes the 167. So, maybe, if someone does it, we will be rid of this gimmick…
And here is a question for Matt Huart, Dave Hendon and WPBSA: should a player make a 147, and then miss the golden ball, would it still count as an official 147?
… with John Higgins and Ding Junhui added to the draw last minute. They will play the wildcards tomorrow afternoon and who plays who will be drawn there and then… No explanation or reason have been offered by WST for these last minute additions. If I have to have a guess I would say that the first evening session wasn’t selling. Already Saudi Arabia isn’t the biggest snooker nation, but the prospect of watching two completely one sided matches probably didn’t attract a big crowd… It will likely be the same in the afternoon, unless they bring some school kids in to fill the seats…
SAUDI ARABIA SET TO WELCOME FIRST PRO SNOOKER EVENT WITH GROUND BREAKING 167 PRIZE
Saudi Arabia set to welcome first pro snooker event with ground-breaking new 167 maximum golden ball prize
Riyadh Season will next week be the host for Saudi Arabia’s first-ever professional snooker event which will include the innovation of a Golden ball, giving the sport’s elite players the chance to score a unique 167 maximum and a substantial cash prize.
The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, which will be broadcast live globally on Eurosport and DAZN, will run from 4-6 March in Boulevard City, Riyadh, featuring the world’s top ten players – Luca Brecel, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Allen, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, Ali Carter, John Higgins and Ding Junhui – who will contest the trophy, alongside wild cards Omar Alajlani and Ali Alobaidli and all will be chasing snooker history.
A 23rd ball, which will be gold and known as the Riyadh Season ball, will be worth 20 points and can only be potted at the end of a 147 maximum. The first player to make the 167 will be awarded a $500,000 (£395,000) bonus by HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA).
The rules of the Golden Ball:
• At the start of each frame, the Golden Ball will be placed on the table, in the centre of the baulk cushion.
• If a 147 is possible in the frame, the Golden Ball will remain on the table. If a player completes a 147 maximum, he will then have the chance to pot the Golden Ball to complete the 167.
• Once a 147 is no longer possible, the Golden Ball will be removed from the table, until the start of the next frame.
• Any foul or infringement involving the Golden Ball incurs a penalty of 4 points or the value of the ball ‘on’, whichever is greater.
“The new Golden Ball is a fascinating idea and something we have never seen in 150 years since snooker was invented! The players are excited about the opportunity to become the first to make a 167 ‘super maximum’ and earn the incredible bonus prize offered by HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh. We are thrilled to be heading to Saudi for our first ever tournament in the Kingdom, working alongside our friends at the General Entertainment Authority, and looking forward to meeting the fans and enjoying the atmosphere at Riyadh Season.”
Steve Dawson
Chairman of WST
EVENT PRIZE MONEY
ROUND-BY-ROUND BREAKDOWN
Winner £250,000 Runner-up £125,000 Semi-finals £75,000 Quarter-finals £50,000 Round one £25,000 Preliminary round £5,000 Total £785,000
About Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia’s capital embraces one of the world’s biggest entertainment events every year during winter. Since the launch of the Riyadh Season in 2019, the festival has welcomed visitors from all over the world to experience thousands of concerts, sporting activities, and other unique cultural events.
For me this golden ball is just a gimmick… a very lucrative one for whoever making the “first 167”. I read that they will get 500,000 dollars for it. That’s quite simply indecent, shameful. I just hope that whoever picks it – if anyone – will at least give the best part of it, if not the whole sum, to a deserving charity.
The snooker.org team discussed wether we want to cover this event or not. We will but without enthusiasm. Here is what Hermund – our boss – shared on Twitter.
I’ll do the same here. I will report, but not share anything on social media, other than this one.
As always, some came on social media, arguing that we condemn Saudi Arabia, but seem to accept China. To which Hermund replied this:
I totally share his views on the issue. There is no condoning China’s treatment of some ethnic minorities, but at least their interest in snooker is genuine and they have millions playing it.
Joe O’Connor stormed his way to the winners’ group of Championship League Snooker, beating Jak Jones 3-0 in the group seven final at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
O’Connor opened his day with a solid 3-2 win over Pang Junxu. The world number 30 then came up against Jones in a match that also went all the way. It was Welshman Jones who won the decider with a break of 52 to emerge with a 3-2 victory.
Leicester’s home star O’Connor took on Elliot Slessor in their final group match, creating his own bit of snooker history with the 200th professional maximum break ever recorded, coming in the third frame of a 3-2 win.
The pair faced each other again in the group semi-finals and once more it was O’Connor who came through, beating Slessor 3-1 with breaks of 41 and 65.
That set up a group final against the unbeaten Jones, who had only dropped five frames across the entire group. However, it was O’Connor who dominated proceedings. He won 3-0 with breaks of 43 and 95.
Speaking afterwards O’Connor said: “These last two days have been unbelievable, first time playing Ronnie, I know he pulled out but it was nice to get a win over him.
“To get my first maximum break today, I think that’s the first time I’ve been past 70 or 80 this season, I’m so pleased. I was really nervous especially after getting perfect on the blue. I wanted to play it confidentially and I ended up hitting it like a fairy and didn’t land on the pink. Somehow I managed to get on the black and knock it in.
“Against Jak, who had won 7 matches in a row, it was probably exhausting for him, it just looked like he run out of steam and luckily I was able to get over the line.
“I’m over the moon to reach the winners’ group in my debut, I’m really looking forward to it.”
BetVictor Championship League Snooker returns for the winners’ group on March 12th, made up by John Higgins, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Stuart Bingham, Neil Robertson, Chris Wakelin, and O’Connor.
Joe O’Connor made the 200th official 147 in snooker history – and first of his career – during his BetVictor Championship League match against Elliot Slessor on Thursday.
O’Connor’s perfect break came in the third frame of his group match against Slessor in Leicester, putting him 2-1 ahead. He went on to win the mach 3-2, making further breaks of 132, 72 and 85.
147 Milestones First: Steve Davis, 1982 Lada Classic 50th: David Gray, 2004 UK Championship 100th: Mark Selby, 2013 UK Championship 150th: Zhou Yuelong, 2019 Indian Open 200th: Joe O’Connor, 2024 Championship League
It’s the 11th maximum of the 2023/24 season, and a new landmark for world number 30 O’Connor, whose previous top break was 143.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 