2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: Further format details released

The new World Snooker Tour event will take place across nine days at Green Halls in Riyadh between August 30 to September 7. In partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation, it is the opening edition in a reported 10-year contract for the competition.

It is the first time that Saudi Arabia will host a professional snooker ranking event, although they did present the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker invitational tournament earlier this year that featured a unique gold ball that could be potted to make a maximum 167 break for a big bonus prize.

There is a legacy commitment with the authorities involved to develop snooker and pool in the region. Saudi Arabia hosted its first World 9-Ball Pool Championship along with the World Nineball Tour in June.

What is the format for the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters?

Jigsaw pieces for details on the format of the first Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters are coming together.

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.

As per a press release from the World Snooker Tour on Sunday, tickets for the event have now gone on sale. On the ticketing website, details for the length of matches in each round are available for the public to see.

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.

Match lengths for each round is as follows:

Rounds 1 to 3: Best of 7 frames

Rounds 4 & 5: Best of 9 frames

Last 16 to semi-finals: Best of 11 frames

Final: Best of 19 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.