Saudi Arabia will host major snooker and pool competitions with prize funds of more than $3 million.
The Ministry of Sport announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host two rounds of the World Pool and Snooker Masters Championships, organised and supervised by the ministry through the Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation, for ten years starting in 2024, with the participation of elite international players.
The Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation’s President, Dr. Nasser Al-Shammari, and the Chairman of Matchroom Corporation, Eddie Hearn, signed the agreement.
According to the agreement, the Kingdom will host the World (9-Ball) Billiard Championship from June 3–8, 2024, in Jeddah.
The event will have a total record prize pool of $600,000 and will feature top pool stars, including former World Champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, five-time US Open title holder and 2022 World Champion Shane Van Boening, and 2018 World Champion Joshua Feller.
Additionally, the Saudi edition of the Snooker Masters will be held in Riyadh from August 31 to September 7, featuring the world’s top professionals as the official Fourth Grand Slam Four with a total prize pool of £2 million ($2.5 million), making it the second most expensive event on the 2024 World Snooker Tour schedule.
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters Championship will be a global event, welcoming 128 players, including six professionals from the national Billiard and Snooker Federation.