In 2019 a full ranking event, the Saudi Arabia Masters, was announced, boasting a top prize of £500,000 which matched the World Championship. We can only hope that if a ranking event does come around in Saudi Arabia then the golden ball will stay in a box and off the table. If it means people are getting paid, it’s got to be done.’The golden gimmick grabbed headlines, but it is obviously not the real issue over snooker, or any sport, heading to Saudi Arabia. I don’t begrudge any snooker player earning money because I don’t think snooker players get paid that well, when it comes to how hard it is. Sport’s with much more financial might than snooker have jumped aboard the gravy train, so it is unrealistic not to expect WST and Matchroom to dip their bread in as well.

Source: Metro January 22, 2024 00:11 UTC