The world’s best snooker and Nineball pool players will this year descend upon Saudi Arabia to launch a 10-year deal that will bring two major annual sporting events to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and transform Billiards in the Middle East. The World Snooker Tour and World Nineball Tour – in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation and the Ministry of Sport for Saudi Arabia – confirmed that a historic, decade-long association will start this summer, with events in both Riyadh and Jeddah.
The Kingdom will host the World Pool Championship (9-ball), from June 3rd to June 8th, in the Green Sports Hall, in Jeddah. And that will be followed by the Snooker Masters from August 31st to September 7th, in the Green Halls, in Riyadh. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh – one of the most powerful figures in Saudi sport made no secret of his willingness to build on the success of the Snooker World Championships tournament by moving it to a bigger venue.
Alalshikh has played a key role in staging boxing’s biggest bouts in Saudi Arabia and one month before Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, he was in London to sign contracts to invest in snooker and develop the sport in his home country. Saudi Arabia has made her intentions clear by hosting two tournaments and signing seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan as an ambassador to showcase the country’s increasing investment in snooker; could become the host of the World Snooker Championship when Sheffield’s deal to host the tournament expires in 2027?
Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn has told Sheffield City Council he wants a bigger venue for the event by 2028. If that does not happen, he is ready to move it abroad, with China and Saudi Arabia possible destinations.
The famous silver trophy was introduced to snooker in 1926 after it was bought by legendary Joe Davis for just £19.
But Hearn, 75, says if a mega-money backer came along and wanted to substitute it for a solid golden pot then that idea would not be dismissed. He told talkSPORT: “That’s no problem with me — you can’t eat a trophy, son. Would I do that?” The World Championship trophy could be axed after 98 years if the tournament heads abroad.
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