Snooker is again, but it surely has a brand new look because the world’s finest gamers descend on Riyadh for Saudi Arabia’s inaugural World Masters of Snooker.
Saudi Arabia has began to flex its monetary muscle tissues on the earth of sport, and snooker is the most recent competitors the gulf state has set its sight on. Looking to distinguish itself from different competitions, there will probably be distinctive guidelines within the Middle East.
The competitors will introduce the golden ball – which in flip permits for a 167 break. And forward of the event’s opening match-up, Daily Star Sport seems to be at every little thing it’s essential know.
The Format
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There will probably be 5 rounds, together with the ultimate, because the 12 finalists play out for the £250,000 prize. Ding Junui vs Omar Alajlani and John Higgins vs Ali Alobaidli will kick off proceedings within the opening spherical earlier than the massive hitters begin to be a part of the competitors.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and co will not be a part of the motion till Tuesday, when the competitors reaches the quarter-final mark.
From there will probably be a straight shoot-out till the ultimate, which is able to happen on Wednesday night at 7pm.
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Who is there?
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10 gamers have earned the appropriate to play: Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Allen, Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, Ali Carter, John Higgins and Ding Junhui.
They will probably be joined by two wildcard slots: Omar Alajlani and Ali Abobaidli. Alajlani will probably be taking part in in entrance of a house crowd – with the 44-year-old being born in Saudi Arabia – whereas Abobaidli is from Qatar.
The two wildcards will open up proceedings on Tuesday.
167 Break
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The massive speaking level heading into the competitors on Monday is the introduction of the Golden Ball. In the occasion of a 147 break, a mammoth feat in itself, gamers may have the prospect to nail a 167.
The Golden Ball will solely come into play after the 167, and it’ll current an opportunity for gamers to realize an additional 20 factors if they’ll discover a pocket. In the occasion of a 167, the participant may also pocket an eye-watering £400,000 – more cash than profitable the entire thing.
That sum of money is likely to be an incentive for the likes of the Rocket to placed on a present.
Golden Ball
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So exterior of a 167, what’s the usage of the Golden Ball? Well, nothing.
Each body will start with the Golden Ball on the baulk cushion stage with the brown spot, and as quickly as a 147 break is not potential will probably be eliminated.
If a participant by chance pots the Golden Ball early within the body or hits it earlier than hitting the thing ball, it’s a four-point foul.
Saudi Arabia and Snooker
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Saudi has an enormous future within the sport.
World Snooker Tour branded a brand new event in Saudi Arabia because the fourth main when it was introduced for later this 12 months. Unlike this week’s occasion the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will probably be open to all.
A ten-year deal has been agreed for the occasion, which is able to happen from August 31 to September 7 in Riyadh and is open to the all 128 tour gamers, plus six native wildcards.
Saudi may also maintain the World Pool Championship, set to be staged in Jeddah from June 3-8.