January 21st 2024.
Last Thursday, the announcement of the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker marked the highly-anticipated arrival of snooker in Saudi Arabia. However, the event is taking an unexpected form, raising more questions than one would expect from a trip to the Kingdom.
Initially, a full ranking event called the Saudi Arabia Masters was planned for 2019, offering a whopping £500,000 prize that matched the World Championship. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, the event had to be postponed and is currently still in the works. In its place, the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker has been organized as the first snooker event in Saudi Arabia. This non-ranking event will feature the top eight players in the world rankings along with two wildcards.
The tournament also introduces a new, somewhat odd rule - the golden ball. According to the press release, this ball is worth 20 points and can only be potted after all other balls have been cleared from the table. This can only happen when a player is on a maximum break, making it a rare and difficult feat to achieve. While the gimmick may not be the most important aspect of the event, it has been met with criticism from snooker fans who are not typically fond of change.
The idea of the golden ball seems to have been influenced by requests made by Saudi Arabia when they hosted the world of professional wrestling, with the WWE making its debut in the country in 2018. The first event, called The Greatest Royal Rumble, featured 50 wrestlers instead of the usual 30, and even included a request for a deceased wrestler to be involved. This led to the inclusion of a sumo wrestler to appease the country's authorities.
The list of players for the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker has been announced, with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Luca Brecel among the top names. When Saudi Arabia invests in an event, they want it to be historical and groundbreaking. This is evident in their desire for a 167 break to be achieved during the tournament, making it the first ever in the sport's history.
While the golden ball may seem cheesy and unnecessary, the organizers are determined to include it in the event. However, there is hope that if a ranking event is held in Saudi Arabia, the golden ball will remain in a box and off the table. On the other hand, the players seem to be in favor of the innovation, showing a disconnect between them and the fans.
World number one Judd Trump has expressed his support for the idea, stating that it is refreshing and something different for the sport. Similarly, Shaun Murphy has also shown enthusiasm towards the golden ball, comparing it to the Shoot-Out event, which was initially met with criticism but has since gained popularity among players and fans alike.
Anthony Hamilton, currently ranked 50th in the world, has a different opinion on the matter. He believes that the idea of the golden ball is ridiculous, but as players, they are not in a position to complain due to their personal finances. Ultimately, if it means getting paid, they will go along with it, even though they would prefer to play traditional snooker.
Despite the attention-grabbing golden ball, it is clear that the real issue surrounding the event, and other sports ventures in Saudi Arabia, is the country's human rights record. Amnesty International has listed 10 human rights abuses, including an increase in executions and discrimination against women. However, this has not stopped other sports from collaborating with the country, and snooker is no exception.
Shaun Murphy acknowledges the concerns over human rights, but points out that it would be difficult to find a country with a perfect human rights record to trade with. In the end, the decision to hold an event in Saudi Arabia comes down to the promoters and their desire to stand out and be different. While the golden ball may be seen as a mere gimmick, it sheds light on the bigger issue at hand.
On Thursday, the exciting news was announced that snooker would finally be making its way to Saudi Arabia in March. However, it's not in the form that anyone expected, and it has left fans with more questions than answers.
Initially, it was announced that the Saudi Arabia Masters, a full ranking event with a prize of £500,000, would be taking place in 2019. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event had to be cancelled. While it is still in the works, the first trip to Saudi Arabia for snooker fans will be the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. This non-ranking event will feature the top eight players in the world rankings, along with two wildcards.
One of the most talked-about aspects of this event is the introduction of a golden ball. This ball, worth 20 points, can only be potted after all the other balls have been cleared from the table, and if a player is on a maximum break to make it 167. While this may seem like a gimmick, it has not been well-received by snooker fans, who are not always keen on change.
The idea of the golden ball may remind some fans of the requests that were made when the WWE brought professional wrestling to Saudi Arabia in 2018. The first event, called The Greatest Royal Rumble, had 50 wrestlers in the battle royal, rather than the traditional 30. There was also a request for a former champion, who had passed away in 2000, to be involved. To appease the paymasters, the WWE added a sumo wrestler to the match.
The players who have been announced for the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker in March are Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Luca Brecel. It is no surprise that the event will be held to a high standard, as Saudi Arabia is known for hosting events that make history. This is evident in the inclusion of the golden ball, as they hope to see the first ever 167 break.
While some may see the golden ball as tacky and unnecessary, the players seem to have a different perspective. Trump has expressed his excitement for the new feature, stating that it's a different experience that he hopes all the players can get behind. Shaun Murphy also supports the innovation, saying that it's important to try new things and not criticize them before giving them a chance.
On the other hand, world number 50 Anthony Hamilton finds the golden ball to be a bit ridiculous, but understands that players are not likely to complain if it means they are getting paid. It's clear that the main focus of players is to have the event and make the best of it, rather than dwell on the gimmicks.
It's important to note that the golden ball is not the main issue when it comes to bringing sports to Saudi Arabia. The country has faced criticism for its human rights record, with Amnesty International listing 10 abuses, from an increase in executions to discrimination against women and lack of free speech. However, this has not stopped other sports from partnering with Saudi Arabia, and snooker is no exception.
Murphy acknowledges the concerns about human rights but also points out that if we only traded with countries with perfect records, the pool of potential partners would be very small. While the golden ball may have caused a stir, it is not the main issue at hand, and it remains to be seen if it will be used in future ranking events.
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