Let’s talk about something wildly unexpected. And a little bit fabulous: Saudi Arabia is hosting one of the biggest snooker events of 2025. And honestly, it’s not just big, it’s enormous. The kind of thing you’d expect to read about in a glossy magazine spread under the headline “Snooker Goes A Notch Up.” The Saudi Snooker Masters 2025 will take place in the heart of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. By the way, if the words “snooker tournament” usually make you think of quiet rooms, sensible shoes and the faint rustle of crisps, think again. Because this? This is snooker reimagined. With velvet ropes, towering prize pots, and the sport’s biggest names descending on the Middle East, the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters is redefining the tournament.
The Big Dates – Saudi Snooker Masters
Maybe you’re planning a summer escape? Or perhaps you happen to adore the sound of balls clinking into pockets in air-conditioned venues? Then, consider Saudi Snooker Masters 2025 your new happy place.
Now, here’s the what, when, and where:
When? 8th to 16th August 2025
Where? The Green Halls, Jeddah
What is it? Snooker’s latest ‘major’, and easily one of the flashiest. It’s the second edition and already being spoken about in hushed, reverent tones.
What Makes Saudi Snooker Masters 2025 Unmissable
Let’s put it this way. Snooker used to be a quiet sport you enjoyed watching with your dad. But now? It’s gone full glam. Saudi Arabia has entered the chat, and brought a £2.3 million prize pot with it. £2.3 million! Just imagine!
This whole show is part of a decade-long partnership between the World Snooker Tour (WST), the World Nineball Tour (WNT), and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation (SABSF). It’s all under the watchful, visionary eye of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport. And in line with Vision 2030, their big, bold initiative to diversify the economy, empower youth, and sprinkle a little razzle-dazzle across the sports landscape.
Prize Money Galore
Now to the meaty bit: the cash. And after glancing at the prize money, I can’t help but add that if cue sports were a reality show, this would be the episode where the suitcase full of cash is wheeled in.
- Prize fund: £2,302,000 (let’s take a moment)
- Winner’s prize: £500,000 – that’s on par with the World Championship, people
- Bonus for a 147 break: £50,000
- Total players: 144
- 128 WST professionals
- 16 wildcards – plucked from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East
Saudi Snooker Masters 2025 the second richest event on the snooker calendar. And by now, you can absolutely say it’s snooker’s “Fourth Major” without anyone glaring at you.
Enter the Dashing Defending Champion
Who, I hear you ask, has the honour of arriving as the reigning hero? None other than Judd Trump, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in 2024, defeating the stately Mark Williams in a final that can only be described as “a right nail-biter.” Trump, being 62 points down in the final frame, pulled off a clearance so divine one half-expected celestial trumpets to sound from the rafters.
This year, he returns as defending champion, with a target on his back and plenty of eager cueists hoping to stop him.
Format, For the Curious (Or the Competitive)
Now, if you’re wondering how 144 players get whittled down to one glittering winner, here’s the rundown:
- Rounds 1–3: Best-of-7 frames
- Rounds 4–5: Best-of-9
- Rounds 6 to Semis: Best-of-11
- Final: A full-blown, two-session battle to 10 frames (best-of-19)
Players ranked in the top 16 on the World Snooker Tour get a golden ticket straight into Round 5. Everyone else (from 17th to 144th) fights it out in the earlier rounds, sharpening their cues and hoping their nerves hold.
How to Watch Without Boarding the Next Flight
If hopping on a plane to Jeddah isn’t quite in the budget this summer, don’t fret, you can catch all the action on screens big and small.
- Online Fans: Select matches will also be broadcast on bet365 Live Streaming (and no, you don’t have to place a bet to watch; although you might find yourself tempted).
- UK Viewers: Watch it live on TNT Sports or stream via Discovery+.
And trust me, you’ll want to tune in. Between the on-table fireworks and the off-table glitz, this isn’t just sport. It’s theatre.
Also read: Top Summer Destinations Within 5 Hours Of UAE
Why Saudi Arabia, Though? Well, Why Not?
Good question. And the answer’s twofold.
First, Saudi Arabia is doing this whole sport-meets-superstar thing very well. From hosting mega boxing matches and Formula E races to opening their doors to global tennis and golf, they’ve set their sights firmly on becoming a go-to hub for elite sporting events. Second, the Vision 2030 initiative isn’t just about showing off. It’s about creating sustainable legacies – giving young Saudis access to global sports, creating career paths, and shifting the perception of what’s possible. In cue sports specifically, that means training up local talent, developing grassroots academies, and slotting promising players into wildcard spots that give them a real shot at the big time.
As Nayef Aljawini, President of the Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation, said (with no small amount of pride): “This partnership puts Saudi Arabia at the heart of the global snooker and billiards scene. It shows the world that we can host, nurture, and produce talent in this space, and that we’re here to stay.”
Who’s Out, Who’s In?
There’s always a bit of drama before any big tournament, and this one’s no different. Due to a fixture clash with the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, a couple of big names, Xiao Guodong and Bai Yulu, have unfortunately withdrawn. Still, with a field this stacked, the action will be electric.
Expect the usual suspects: Ronnie O’Sullivan (if he’s in the mood), Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Luca Brecel. And of course, the local wildcards looking to pull off a fairy-tale upset.
Let’s Tally the Funds (Because We Must)
Here’s how the loot breaks down for the Snooker Masters. Try not to drool:
Winner: £500,000
Runner-up: £200,000
Semi-finalists: £100,000 each
Quarter-finalists: £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 Bonus: £50,000
So, whether you’re an old-school snooker tragic, a fresh convert from darts, or merely in it for the waistcoats and whispered commentary, the 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters promises nine glorious days of cue-clashing splendour.
Jeddah shall gleam, the Green Halls shall echo with gasps and applause, and some lucky dude shall walk away half a million pounds richer, hopefully still clutching their cue.
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