Inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters begins in Riyadh

This historic World Snooker Tour ranking event carries a huge total prize fund of £2.3 million, with £500,000 of that purse going to the champion on September 7. All 144 players compete at the main venue across nine days of action in the Middle East.

With a tiered draw in place - meaning contestants enter the competition depending on their world ranking position - day one focuses on the first round, with the lowest ranked professionals and amateur invites taking to the stage to break off the tournament.

On the main TV table, Oliver Lines was the first player through to round two as he dispatched Saudi wildcard Faisal Bahashwan 4-0 in a largely scrappy affair, although Lines did compile an 82 break in frame one.

Next on was Ben Mertens, who also recorded a 4-0 clean sweep over another amateur from Saudi; Abdullah Alotayyani. The Belgian teenager registered runs of 79 and 72 during the tie.

Elsewhere in the arena, Michael Holt crafted breaks of 78 and 68 as he eliminated Ahmad Abul 4-0 while Simon Blackwell and Rory Thor also recorded whitewash wins over Reanne Evans and Omar Alajlani, respectively.

In the most exciting finish of the tournament so far, rookie professional Robbie McGuigan ousted Abdulraouf Saigh 4-3 on the final pink ball. The 20-year-old from Northern Ireland trailed 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, and 48 points to nil in the deciding frame, but when Saigh - who made a 93 break earlier in the match - went in-off on the final red, McGuigan remained cool to get the job done in one visit.

There was success for the Middle East wildcard representation, though, as Mohamed Elkhayat came from 3-1 down to deny 2023 World Women's Snooker Champion Baipat Siripaporn, 4-3.

Allan Taylor recovered from 2-1 down to defeat Adeel Aqdus 4-2, meanwhile Chris Totten came back from 2-0 behind to stop Haris Tahir, constructing breaks of 74 and 54 during his four-frame winning streak.

The most impressive display of the afternoon session in Riyadh was from Julien Leclercq. A former Snooker Shoot Out runner-up, the Belgian cueist racked up breaks of 112, 94 and 91 in a 4-2 victory against Dylan Emery.

World Snooker Federation Champion Ka Wai Cheung made a trio of half-century breaks in 4-1 win over Joshua Thomond, and there were 4-0 triumphs for Farakh Ajaib (breaks of 73 and 53 v Haitham Al Mahri) and Liam Graham (v Ali Hussain Ali).

In an-all Chinese encounter, reigning World Women's Snooker Champion Bai Yulu went 2-0 up on Lei Peifan, but Lei took the next four frames to advance 4-2, helped by efforts of 50 and 83.

However, there was success for the women's contingent as Mink Nutcharut dispatched Libya’s Kusai Hamed, 4-1.

Latvia's Artemijs Zizins received a 4-0 walkover Malaysia's Kok Leong Lim.

For the draw, results and other important details, please visit our 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters Tournament Information Centre, here.