There will be snooker played over Christmas in Macau again… this time with Ronnie, Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Jak Jones, Ding Junhui, Marco Fu , Stuart Bingham and Si Jiahui.

I have the feeling that Ronnie is slowly but definitely preparing for his “after pro career”. His contract with the Saudi probably prevents him to “professionally” hang his cue before three years from now, but he will be nearly 52 by then. If he’s no more on tour, he will be free to play on the Seniors tour as well, something he has also hinted at in recent months.

Here is the announcement:

“Wynn Presents – 2024 Macau Snooker Masters” returns in December with world-class talent

October 31, 2024

The exhibition tournament “Wynn Presents – 2024 Macau Snooker Masters” will return to the city on 25-28 December with a star-studded line-up of nine of the world’s top snooker players, aiming to further enrich Macau’s sports tourism offerings and enhance its international appeal.

Organised by the integrated resort operator Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A., the tournament will unfold at the Wynn Palace from 25 to 28 December. The event is supported by the Macau Government Tourism Office and the Sports Bureau and co-organised by Sailing Up Sports.

The nine players set to showcase their skills in Macau in December include Ronnie O’Sullivan, a seven-time World Snooker Championship winner regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport of all time. The current world number one player, Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, the current world number two and the incumbent World Snooker Championship winner, and Jak Jones, the first runner-up of the 2024 World Snooker Championship, will also join O’Sullivan.

Ding Jun Hui, the Chinese snooker player regarded as one of the most successful Asian players in the sport, and Hong Kong legend Marco Fu, will also be featured. In addition, Jack Lisowski, the first runner-up of the “Wynn Presents – 2023 Macau Snooker Masters,” will return to the city again.

“Wynn is committed to hosting premier international sporting events, establishing a diverse global perspective for Macau,” said Linda Chen, President and Vice Chairman of Wynn Macau, Limited.

“‘Wynn Presents – 2024 Macau Snooker Masters’ not only advances Macau’s ‘tourism + sports’ strategy but also offers a diversified travel experience for locals and visitors, contributing to the development of Macau as a ‘City of Sports’,” she added.

A press conference was held on Thursday (31 October) unveiling the details of the 2024 edition of the tournament, where some of the players also attended to talk about their preparation. Meanwhile, O’Sullivan was officially named the “Wynn Brand Ambassador” at the press conference.

“As the Wynn Brand Ambassador, I am very honoured to be working alongside Wynn in promoting and increasing the popularity of snooker around the world,” O’Sullivan stated. The two parties will also work on enhancing Macau’s appeal to international visitors and bolstering the city’s global recognition.

“I can’t wait to have fantastic games with all these outstanding players in Macau by the end of this year, while celebrating the festive season with our fans,” he added.

Passion for Macau

A new playing format will be implemented for this year’s exhibition tournament, where O’Sullivan will compete in best-of-7 frames matches against other players. Seven matches are scheduled between 25-28 December, with O’Sullivan featured in all except for a match on 26 December between Judd Trump and Ding Jun Hui.

“I love coming to Macau,” remarked O’Sullivan, expressing his excitement about playing in the city. “I really love the old town of Macau. [There’s] so much to do—walk around [with] nice scenery, lovely food, and the weather is great.”

“Everyone looks after me so well. It’s such a nice place for me to be—I can do my work and I can practice, which is important.”

This sentiment is also shared by Fu. “I’ve been visiting Macau since I was young, and every visit brings me joy,” remarked the Hong Kong player. “I have also made many friends in Macau.”

“Macau feels like half of my home court, as many fans and friends from Hong Kong come to watch and support me here,” he added. “With many top players participating in this tournament… I aim to give my best performance for everyone to enjoy.”

In addition to these players, the line-up for the “Wynn Presents – 2024 Macau Snooker Masters” includes Stuart Bingham, a former World Snooker Championship winner, and Chinese rising star Si Jia Hui.

*This article is part of the MNA Wynn Macau Tourism Plus Partnership Series 

Also … relating to yesterday’s announcement about Ronnie’s Hong Kong residency … I would not be surprised if Ronnie joined the Hong Kong academy in order to help snooker to keep its elite sport status, actually I expect him to do that. It’s an excellent place to practice, probably the best in the area. But I wonder if, joining this academy combined with his newly acquired resident status would allow him to compete under Hong Kong flag because if he can, and does, that would definitively help the image and status of snooker in Hong Kong.