Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: Information and a Potted History

(Please note, this event is different to the World Masters of Snooker that was an invitational event held earlier in 2024).

Having been announced in the past, the ranking event was put on hold for several years due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, but in 2024 it was confirmed that a 10-year contract had been signed with the inaugural edition to be held later in the year. It is set to be professional snooker’s first ranking event on the Arabian Peninsula since 2008. 

The first installment of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has a prize fund of over two million pounds, with only the sport’s blue riband event, the World Snooker Championship, holding a bigger purse.  

Labelled by the authorities as the sport’s ‘fourth major’, the tournament will be open to all professional tour card holders. 

As of April 2024, the format for the competition has yet to be fully released, but not all entrants will appear in the Kingdom, with a qualifying phase held in England pencilled in for late July/early August. 

There is no suggestion that any ‘special’ rules – such as the Riyadh Season Gold Ball used in the World Masters of Snooker – will be applied during the event, although there will likely be a wildcard round held at the main venue in Green Halls with six Saudi players set to be invited.