Snooker heads to Saudi Arabia with Kingdom eyeing fourth Major
Snooker has become the latest sport to head to the Middle East with confirmation of a 10-year deal which will see Saudi Arabia play hosts.
www.cityam.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
Answer
- The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has been cancelled and will not return to the World Snooker Tour calendar for the 2026/27 season or beyond. This decision marks the end of the event after only two editions, despite being promoted as a major, with a substantial prize fund of about £2.3 million. Several top players expressed disappointment about how the news was communicated and the impact on ranking points and opportunities [sources: BBC Sport / BBC News, Sporting Life, Mirror, Independent, Sky Sports, Express].
Context and key details
- What was cancelled: The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, part of the World Snooker Tour schedule, often described as a fourth major event due to its prize fund and status [BBC Sport, Sporting Life, Sky Sports, Express].
- When the cancellation was announced: Reports emerged in April 2026 that the event would not continue, following discussions between the Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation and Matchroom; the announcement noted that future editions would not proceed [BBC Sport, Sporting Life, Sporting Life; Mirror, Independent].
- Prize and impact: The event had a £2.3 million prize fund with £500,000 awarded to the winner; its absence affects ranking points under snooker’s two-year rolling system for players who might have relied on it for momentum and qualification points [Independent, Sporting Life, Sky Sports].
- Player reaction: Several leading players publicly expressed disappointment, frustration, and a sense of miscommunication around the cancellation, with notable comments from figures such as Barry Hawkins [BBC Sport / BBC News, Independent, Mirror].
Notes
- If you’d like, I can pull together a brief timeline of events leading up to the cancellation and summarize how different outlets framed the decision.
- Since I’m in Marseille, France, you might also want local updates or implications for regional snooker events—would you like me to search for any French or European reactions or scheduling changes?
Citations
- This summary reflects reporting from multiple outlets about the cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in 2026, including BBC Sport, Sporting Life, Sky Sports, Express, Mirror, and The Independent [BBC Sport][Sporting Life][Sky Sports][Express][Mirror][Independent].