Yesterday WST announced that the tickets for the 2024 Saudi Snooker Masters went on sale. In the same article they also give a bit more details about the event itself.

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Snooker’s all-time greatest player Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competing for the trophy, alongside world number one Mark Allen, World Champion Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, John Higgins and many more of snooker’s biggest stars. In total there will be 144 players in the draw, including 17 wild cards from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

The event is part of an exciting legacy commitment with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation, aiming to develop snooker and pool in the region over next decade.

Saudi Arabia Billiards & Snooker Federation President, Dr Nasser Saab Al-Shammari, said “The Kingdom is a destination for hosting the world’s biggest international sports events. We are thrilled to host a tournament of this stature in the sport, which is attended by many international stars, whose participation will contribute to the exchange of experiences between the participating players, entertain audiences around the world, and develop Saudi talent in the game of snooker.”

Steve Dawson, Chairman of WST, said: “We are thrilled to bring a world ranking event to Saudi Arabia for the first time, and this is a massive event for the players with the biggest prize money for any tournament other than the World Championship. The all-time greats will be determined to go all the way to the trophy.

“For fans in the region who have not watched snooker live before, it is an incredible experience. The skills of the best players cannot be matched in any other sport, and the drama of snooker always creates an intense atmosphere. This event is not to be missed for anyone who loves sport.

“Working alongside our partners we will ensure a fantastic experience for the fans at the venue. Book tickets fast and enjoy the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters!”

Former World Champion Shaun Murphy, who reached the final of the recent Shanghai Masters, said: “I am thrilled that we now have a ranking event in Riyadh for the whole tour. I am fully behind it and looking forward to being a part of it. Hopefully the success of these events will bring in other countries and help snooker to grow throughout the Middle East.“

The tournament gets underway on Friday August 30th. The world’s top 16 players will be in action from Tuesday September 3rd, with the thrilling final set for Saturday September 7th.

Round one: Seeds 81-112 v seeds 113-144 (August 30th)
Round two: Those 32 winners v seeds 49 -80 (August 31st)
Round three: Those 32 winners v seeds 17-48 (September 1st)
Round four: Those 32 winners play each other (September 2nd)
Round five: Those 16 winners v seeds 1-16 in the last 32 (September 3rd)
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Michael Day on his Totally Snookered blog gives us some more details, notably regarding the format.

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It had already been announced in recent weeks that the tournament will field 144 players (all professional players are eligible) and that all competitors will play at the main venue in Riyadh. There will be no ‘qualifying’ or opening rounds played elsewhere.

The format structure of the tournament will resemble the same as the UK and World Championships, with the world’s top 16 ranked players all being seeded through to the last 32 (round five). More details on the tiered system being used and schedule are here.

Eight tables will be used during the opening five days of the tournament, with a round completed on each of these days.

This goes down to four tables in operation for the last 16, two tables for the quarter-finals, and a one-table set-up will be used from the semi-finals on September 6.

Rounds 1 to 3: Best of 7 frames

Rounds 4 & 5: Best of 9 frames

Last 16 to semi-finals: Best of 11 frames

Who is playing at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters?

The entry list and draw for the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has yet to be released, although it has been confirmed that the sport’s biggest names are all set to be there. This includes seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan – winner of the aforementioned Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker back in March.

World Champion Kyren Wilson, world number one Mark Allen, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams and John Higgins are all scheduled to be in the Middle East for the event which is expected to have a £500,000 first prize.

A total of 17 wildcards as selected by the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation are set to be in the draw.

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