Snooker’s ‘fourth major’ to be held in Saudi Arabia with nearly £2MILLION prize pot after stunning 10-year deal

SAUDI ARABIA will host a new £2million snooker event that is being billed as the ‘fourth major' - with a potential £500,000 jackpot for the winner.

The inaugural 128-player Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will be held in Riyadh between August 31 and September 7.

To appease the oil-rich promoters, the World Snooker Tour want to promote this as the fourth biggest event on the calendar after the traditional Triple Crown tournaments – the Worlds, UK Championship and Masters.

Only the Crucible prize fund, which was more than £2milllion in 2023, is larger than the lucrative pot on the table from Middle East bosses.

It is believed the cheque for the winner will be half a million pounds, the same total that goes to the Crucible world champion each year.

This is separate from next month’s eight-man invitational which will see the introduction of a crass and controversial 20-point Gold Ball – thereby allowing players to sink a world-record 167 break.

Four-time world snooker champion John Higgins, 48, said: “Oh fabulous. It is incredible news. Everybody is delighted with the news.

“One of my first tournaments abroad was in Dubai. You thought snooker might stay out in the Middle East but we have had a long break since then.

“Hopefully it is here to stay. It’s a ten-year deal – I just need to keep playing until I am 60 to enjoy it.

“It’s all about maximising the earning potential when you are a snooker player. I’m sure everybody we will be gunning for that top prize again.”

On June 3-8, the 2024 World Pool Championship will be staged at the Green Halls in Jeddah.

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has forged a reputation for growth and creating new opportunities for sports to grow in a new market to new fans.

“The country has hosted some of the world’s premier sporting events in recent years, welcoming visitors from all over to experience its passion for sport and unique culture.

“We have seen the incredible impact boxing has had in this region.

“Now, I believe we will see billiards cement its legacy here too, creating incredible opportunities and competition for the finest players on the planet.”

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Hearn has previously organised huge boxing fights in Saudi Arabia including Anthony Joshua's title fight against Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.

AJ returned to the Gulf state to face Otto Wallin last December, on a double bill that included Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker.