World Snooker Tour axe major event as official statement released
A World Snooker Tour event with a whopping £2.6 million prize money pot has been axed after a mutual agreement, it has been confirmed.
The Saudi Arabia Masters took place in 2024 and 2025, with events being put in both Riyadh and Jeddah.
It was slated to take place again in 2026, having been referred to as "the fourth major" in the sport.
But despite a 10-year agreement being signed previously, the World Snooker Tour has announced the deal has come to a premature agreement after talks were held between all parties.
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“Following constructive discussions between The Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation and Matchroom following the conclusion of the 2025 editions, it has been mutually agreed not to proceed with future editions of the World Pool Championship and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters,” a statement from the WST said.
“Across 2024 and 2025, the Kingdom successfully staged two major events in Riyadh and Jeddah, welcoming world champions and providing 18 Saudi players with the opportunity to compete on the same stage.
“Thousands of spectators attended from nearly 40 countries, many experiencing elite live snooker and pool for the first time.
“During this period, Saudi juniors also progressed through international events, including World Nineball Tour competitions, Q Tour Middle East, and Asian junior championships — important early steps onto the global stage.
“We extend our sincere thanks to all players, officials, and participants for their contribution to the success of these events.”
Judd Trump was the inaugural winner of the event in 2024, defeating Mark Williams 10-9. The following year, Neil Robertson emerged victorious by beating Ronnie O'Sullivan by the same scoreline.
O'Sullivan spoke glowingly of the Saudi showpiece and signed a three-year ambassadorial deal to promote the sport in the country.
Robertson could well be the last winner of the tournament and it could have a significant impact on the world rankings as neither he or Trump will have the opportunity to defend half a million ranking points.
Both men received £500,000 from the £2.6 million prize money put for winning the competition. The tournament also offered a unique £50,000 prize for anyone who recorded a 147 maximum break, although nobody managed the feat.
The event was widely criticised for a lack of attendance and atmosphere. During one of the first-round matches, there was not a single fan present behind the players on the TV broadcast.
Josh Lawless