The World Snooker Tour has confirmed the Saudi Arabia Masters has been axed from the calendar, delivering a significant blow to players. The contentious tournament was launched two years ago but will no longer feature from the 2026/27 season onwards.
End of a 10-Year Agreement
A 10-year agreement had previously been struck between WST bosses and Saudi sport officials, but the latest development sees the tournament scrapped early. It was billed as the fourth major, boasting an enormous prize fund of £2.3 million for the 128 competing players. On top of that, an additional £50,000 was up for grabs for players who successfully made a 147, while the champion pocketed a staggering £500,000 – identical to the prize awarded to the World Championship winner.
Impact on Top Players
Judd Trump claimed victory at the inaugural Saudi Masters in 2024, while Neil Robertson defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan in last year's event. This creates particular difficulties for those two players, as they will be unable to defend the half-a-million-pound ranking money following the tournament's cancellation. It follows reports that the Saudi Public Investment Firm intends to shift its focus away from football in the coming years, with snooker already feeling the consequences.
Official Statement
A statement from the WST sent to players read: "Following constructive discussions between The Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation and Matchroom following the conclusion of the 2025 editions, it has been mutually agreed not to proceed with future editions of the World Pool Championship and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
"Across 2024 and 2025, the Kingdom successfully staged two major events in Riyadh and Jeddah, welcoming world champions and providing 18 Saudi players with the opportunity to compete on the same stage. Thousands of spectators attended from nearly 40 countries, many experiencing elite live snooker and pool for the first time.
"During this period, Saudi juniors also progressed through international events, including World Nineball Tour competitions, Q Tour Middle East, and Asian junior championships – important early steps onto the global stage. We extend our sincere thanks to all players, officials, and participants for their contribution to the success of these events."
