Riyadh Season Bolsters Ties With World Snooker Tour For Sport's Growth

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) of Saudi Arabia has taken significant strides in promoting snooker within the region by expanding its partnership with the World Snooker Tour (WST). This collaboration aims to enhance the sport's visibility and foster a robust snooker community in the Middle East. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the GEA Board of Directors, announced a pivotal agreement ahead of the World Snooker Championship, marking Riyadh Season as an official partner of the esteemed tournament.

Alalshikh also revealed a new three-year agreement with Ronnie O'Sullivan, the world's top-ranked snooker player. This deal ensures O'Sullivan's participation in all WST events held in Saudi Arabia and involves his engagement in coaching and mentoring activities within the Kingdom. The announcement follows the success of the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters in Snooker, a tournament that saw O'Sullivan emerge victorious.

The 2024/25 Riyadh Season will feature the return of this acclaimed event, showcasing the top 10 global players and two wild card entrants. A unique aspect of the tournament is the "Riyadh Season ball," a golden cue ball that offers players the opportunity to score a record 167 break. In an effort to encourage this historic achievement, the prize for accomplishing a "super maximum" break has been increased to $1 million.

Alalshikh expressed optimism about these initiatives' potential to inspire young enthusiasts and elevate snooker's profile in Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the goal of creating a vibrant fan community and establishing a platform for local talent to shine. The upcoming World Snooker Championship, which Riyadh Season is partnering with, is set to commence next Saturday at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre and will run until May 6.

Steve Dawson, WST Chairman, shared Alalshikh's enthusiasm for this partnership, emphasizing their shared vision for snooker's expansion across the Middle East and the nurturing of emerging talent. Dawson expressed hope for eventually crowning a Saudi Arabian World Snooker Champion, viewing these initiatives as crucial steps toward that ambition.

Ronnie O'Sullivan also commented on his involvement, praising the atmosphere and fan enthusiasm at the Riyadh Season World Masters. He expressed excitement about contributing to snooker's growth in Saudi Arabia and participating in more major events within the Kingdom. O'Sullivan looks forward to working alongside Alalshikh to realize his ambitious vision for the sport.

This partnership between GEA and WST, underscored by significant agreements and initiatives, sets a promising stage for snooker's development in Saudi Arabia. It aims not only to popularize the sport but also to cultivate local talent capable of competing on the world stage.

With inputs from SPA