TOP PRIZE OF £500,000 AT SAUDI ARABIA SNOOKER MASTERS

The prize fund for the new Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has been announced, including a top prize of £500,000 which matches the winner’s reward at the World Championship.

The total prize pool is bigger than any tournament other than the World Championship and reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to help grow snooker in the Kingdom and across the Middle East. 

The world ranking event in Riyadh also includes a possible £50,000 bonus for a 147 maximum break. 

In addition, the event will count towards a potential £147,000 bonus, which will be awarded to any player who makes two maximum breaks across the counting events.

Last season the bonus was only in operation for snooker’s Triple Crown tournaments, the UK Championship, Masters and World Championship. This has now been extended across the sport’s four majors, to include maximums made in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.

The full breakdown is:

Winner: £500,000

Runner-up: £200,000

Semi-finals: £100,000

Quarter-finals: £50,000

Last 16: £30,000

Last 32: £20,000

Last 48: £11,000

Last 80: £7,000

Last 112: £4,000

Last 144: £2,000

147 Break: £50,000

Total £2,302,000

The massive total fund gives the entire snooker circuit a chance to earn significant prize money and ranking points early on in the season. Australia’s 23-time ranking event winner Neil Robertson is seeking to take full advantage. 

“We need to break into new territories. Saudi Arabia is investing in sport to help inspire its young population to get active and lead healthy lives and it’s great that snooker is now part of this strategy,” said 2010 World Champion Robertson.

“We are getting more tournaments, with more prize money, more ranking points and earning opportunities for all of the tour. The fact that all the players will be out in Saudi Arabia from round one is pretty exciting. I can’t think of too many tournaments where we have done that before. I’m looking forward to that and I’m sure they aren’t going to spare any expense making sure it is a great experience for everyone.”

The tournament will run from August 30th to September 7th in Green Halls, Riyadh, featuring 144 of the world’s top players. It is part of an exciting legacy commitment with the Ministry of Sport for Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation, aiming to develop snooker and pool in the region over next decade.

President of the Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation Nasser Al-Shammari said: “We’re excited to partner with Matchroom and the WST to host the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.  The prize fund reflects our commitment to help grow snooker in Saudi and throughout the Middle East, inspiring our young population to take up the sport.  Hosting international events is just one element of our strategy, which also includes grass roots facilities, events and promotions.  We look forward not just to an exciting event, but also the long-term impact it will have.”