The inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker concludes on Wednesday with four players still in contention at the Boulevard Arena.
A fascinating penultimate round of the competition boasts the four highest ranked players from the official world ranking list.
It promises to be an exciting climax to what is snooker’s first foray into the lucrative Saudi Arabian market.
Both semi-finals on day three will be followed by the final, where a huge top prize worth £250,000 is up for grabs.
There is also still the dangling carrot of the 167 jackpot bonus, where the first player who sinks the new 20-point golden ball at the end of a 147 break will pocket $500,000.
John Higgins has come the closest so far – the Scot missing the yellow on a break of 120 during his preliminary-round fixture with Mark Williams.
Luca Brecel vs Mark Allen
(Wednesday, 2pm UTC)
The first semi-final at the World Masters in Riyadh will be between world champion Luca Brecel and Mark Allen.
The pair emerged from contrasting quarter-final encounters on Tuesday to reach the last four.
Brecel generally controlled his battle with Ali Carter and beat the Captain with a 4-1 scoreline.
Allen, meanwhile, fought his way back from 3-1 behind to deny Mark Selby in a highly dramatic deciding frame that was settled on the final black.
As a non-ranking event, this tournament will have no impact on the official world rankings list, but both Allen and Brecel are in the hunt to end the season as the world number one.
The latter is coming into some form again after a few disappointing months of struggle following his immense triumph at the Crucible last year.
Allen, of course, has been a consistent winner on the calendar for a while and added the Players Championship crown to his growing collection a couple of weeks ago.
The Northern Irishman has faced Brecel eight times on the main tour and boasts a superior 5-3 head-to-head record over the Belgian.
Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker
– Prize Money –
Champion: £250,000
Runner-up: £125,000
Semi-Finals: £75,000
Quarter-Finals: £50,000
Last 10: £25,000
Last 12: £5,000
167 break: $500,000
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Judd Trump
(Wednesday, not before 3pm UTC)
Current world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan will be challenged by world number two Judd Trump in a mouthwatering second semi-final.
The blockbuster battle will pit the two most prolific winners of the 2023/24 snooker season against one another.
O’Sullivan and Trump have accumulated eight titles between them this term, sharing the spoils evenly with four slabs of silverware apiece.
One of the best rivalries of the last decade, the English duo have faced each other in countless important matches over the years.
That has included many finals, most recently at the World Grand Prix in January when O’Sullivan romped to a 41st career ranking crown.
The Rocket was at his brilliant best on Tuesday, dismantling the challenge of his older rival John Higgins with a tremendous three-ton performance.
Trump was also in decent form but was made to work a lot harder, clawing his way back from 2-0 and 3-2 behind to pip Shaun Murphy in a decider.
O’Sullivan and Trump have a relatively even head-to-head record, and this one has the makings of being a belter.
World Masters of Snooker draw
Last 12 (bo7)
Ding Junhui 4-0 Omar Alajlani
John Higgins 4-0 Ali Alobaidli
Last 10 (bo7)
Ali Carter 4-3 Ding Junhui
Mark Williams 2-4 John Higgins
Quarter-Finals (bo7)
Luca Brecel 4-1 Ali Carter
Mark Allen 4-3 Mark Selby
Judd Trump 4-3 Shaun Murphy
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-0 John Higgins
Semi-Finals (bo7)
Luca Brecel 4-2 Mark Allen
Judd Trump 1-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Final (bo9)
Luca Brecel 2-5 Ronnie O’Sullivan
How to watch the Riyadh Season World Masters
Live coverage of the tournament will be available on Eurosport and discovery+.
It is also being shown worldwide on DAZN, while a full list of broadcasters is below.
Worldwide
DAZN
Europe (including UK and Ireland)
Eurosport, discovery+ and Eurosport App
China
Migu
Huya.com
Hong Kong China
Now TV
Malaysia
Astro SuperSport
Thailand
True Vision
Taiwan
Sportcast
Philippines
Premier Sports Network
Indonesia
Sportstars / Vision+
Myanmar
SkyNet
Cambodia
Hang Meas
Middle East / North Africa
MBC Action
MBC Egypt
Saudi Sport
webook
Shahid
Featured photo credit: WST
I’m not watching this event for ethical reasons but I was glad to see the attendances were poor. I found Jack Lisowski wearing a robe uncomfortable and the playing of the national anthem is unnecessary at a snooker tournament.
It clearly is a high class line-up but best of 7 is insufficient for this kind of cash.
Marcus Stead has written an editorial in Snooker Scene as to why sport needs to takes a stand against all this sportswashing in the same way sport opposed apartheid by generally not holding sporting events in South Africa.
Yes Jay I agree to a certain extent. It feels like Ronnie wants to run the show, but I should caution all players to be very wary, because I feel that the Saudis are using them. As for Jack Lizowski donning Arab robes he should think very carefully as to what path he’s treading. Don’t let the money influence you.