2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: Format released, tiered system to be used

Following the running of the invitational Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker which was held earlier in the year, Saudi Arabia will host its first professional snooker ranking event in Green Halls, Riyadh between Friday 30th August to Saturday 7th September.

It was announced a few weeks ago that the lucrative tournament will feature 144 players - open to all current World Snooker Tour professionals and 16 Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation wildcards - and that all rounds of the event will be held in Riyadh; there will be no 'qualifiers' held beforehand in a different country.

Format information about the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters

Now, it has been confirmed by the WST that the format of the event will be similar to the current UK Championship and World Championship arrangements which also feature 144 players.

The 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will use a tiered system identical to those used in the UK and World Championships. This means players will enter the competition at different stages of the event, dependant on their world ranking.

The tournament will have nine rounds, meaning the lowest ranked players need to win nine matches to claim the title, whilst those in the world's top 16 rankings don't feature until round five (last 32). One of the advantages to the tiered system is that lower ranked players will face someone near them in the rankings instead of possibly being drawn against one of snooker's superstars first up.

Dates and format for the opening five rounds of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters

Round one: Seeds 81-112 v seeds 113-144 | August 30th

Round two: 32 round one winners v seeds 49 -80 | August 31st

Round three: 32 round two winners v seeds 17-48 | September 1st

Round four: 32 round three winners - 16 matches | September 2nd

Round five: 16 round four winners v seeds 1-16 in the last 32 | September 3rd

Who is playing at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters?

The World Snooker Tour has already confirmed that several of the sport's biggest superstars will be in the Middle East for the ranking event.

This includes seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan who has already tasted success in Saudi Arabia having won the aforementioned World Masters of Snooker back in March where he banked the £250,000 top prize.

World champion Kyren Wilson and world number one Mark Allen have entered, as too has recent Shanghai Masters champion Judd Trump.

All four women players currently on the professional snooker circuit - Reanne Evans, Baipat Siripaporn, Mink Nutcharut and Bai Yulu - are also set to compete in Saudi.