Snooker stars from around the globe have been converging on Riyadh for the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, with the historic event kicking off tomorrow.

Uniquely the tournament hosts all 144 players at the final venue without a qualifying round, giving all competitors the opportunity to perform on one of the sport’s biggest stages. With players putting in their final preparations on the practice tables today, the feedback for this custom built venue at the Green Halls has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It is magnificent to have 144 players out here, that is a first for the tour. I think it is going to be a great success,” said 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty.  

“It’s brilliant for the players and a massive thing for whoever wins it. There is a lot at stake and it has brought a lot of money into the game. This could start a Middle Eastern swing to the tour with other countries in the region hoping to stage tournaments as well. They have done a great job and I’m sure all the players are looking forward to it as much as I am.

“My first impressions of the venue are amazing. The practice room is great and the VIP facilities are really impressive. This is a very nice arena and there is also an academy down the road with 40 tables as well. To hear that this place is purpose built for the snooker alone is quite incredible.”

Rookie professional and world number 99 Robbie McGuigan said: “To be honest it feels a bit surreal. When you first get off the plane, you think about being in a new country. You think about the conditions and what it is going to be like, but you don’t really know until you are there. When I got off the plane, the heat was incredible. Driving through the city on the way to the hotel and seeing all of the high rise buildings was really amazing. It is surreal that I am going to be playing a snooker tournament here.

“I feel very privileged to come to Saudi Arabia and to be playing snooker here is an added bonus on top of that. It is absolutely superb what WST have done to get this tournament staged. To have a full ranking event is fantastic for all of the players.

“The fact 144 players are competing here gives the lower ranked professionals an extra incentive. This is what the game can do for you. If you do well, the rewards are there. You go to nice places and are treated like royalty. When I came through departures at the airport, there were four men and three women waiting there to help me out. The lower ranked professionals will want to qualify for these big events more often. This is what it is all about, playing in these arenas.”