SNOOKER – BAHRAIN’S Habib Sabah will be competing in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters this weekend – an event on this season’s World Snooker Tour offering a staggering £2.3million (approximately $3m) in total prize money.
Sabah has been invited as one of 17 wildcards nominated by the Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation (SBSF) to compete in the event.
The other 127 are world tour players, completing a total field of 144 of the top cueists from all around the world.
Some of the biggest names taking part include the sport’s top 16 such as seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, current world champion Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump, and Mark Allen, to name a few.
Play begins from Friday, when Sabah will take on Antoni Kowalski of Poland, who is currently just outside of the top 100 in the world rankings.
Their match is part of the day’s first round schedule, and it is scheduled for an 8pm start, Bahrain time. Winners move on to the second round the next day.
The world ranking event in Saudi is scheduled to continue until Tuesday next week.
The Saudi Snooker Masters is part of the country’s investment to help grow the sport in Saudi and across the Middle East. As well as hosting international events, the SBSF is investing in grassroots facilities, events, and promotions to help inspire the young population into the sport.
Sabah is the only player from Bahrain taking part. He is also currently competing in the 2024-25 WPBSA Q Tour Middle East, held as part of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s (WPBSA) international calendar.
There are three events on the Q Tour Middle East, including ones already held this year in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, and a third to be held in Saudi in October and November.
The top two-ranked players at the end of the final meeting will book their tickets to the Q Tour Global Play-Offs, where three World Snooker Tour cards will be on offer.
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