{"id":8132,"date":"2026-04-26T11:49:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T11:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8132"},"modified":"2026-04-26T11:49:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T11:49:44","slug":"barry-hawkins-fumes-at-pathetic-loss-of-saudi-arabia-snooker-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8132","title":{"rendered":"Barry Hawkins fumes at ‘pathetic’ loss of Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Barry Hawkins is not happy about the loss of the Saudi Masters (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Barry Hawkins has voiced his frustrations over the cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Masters, slamming the \u2018pathetic\u2019 loss of the big-money event. <\/p>\n

The ranking event was first staged in 2024, when Judd Trump beat Mark Williams in the Riyadh final, which saw him land the enormous \u00a3500,000 top prize.<\/p>\n

The tournament was announced as a 10-year deal, but last year\u2019s edition in Jeddah \u2013 won by Neil Robertson \u2013 has proved to be the last.<\/p>\n

World Snooker Tour wrote in a statement on Saturday: \u2018Following 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

The loss of the tournament comes amid the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) re-evaluating their financial approach to sport, pulling out of LIV Golf investment and plans to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n

The PIF has entered a \u2018Value Realization\u2019 period from 2026-30, with some projects falling by the wayside as the 2034 football World Cup becomes the focus.<\/p>\n

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You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade, since working in World Snooker’s press office in 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The war in Iran has also added \u2018more pressure to reposition some priorities,\u2019 according to PIF governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan.<\/p>\n

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Neil Robertson will be the last Saudi Arabia Masters champion (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hawkins is not entirely sympathetic, though, very unhappy to see the second biggest tournament on the calendar \u2013 in terms of prize fund \u2013 axed just two years into a 10-year contract.<\/p>\n

\u2018What a disappointment, without sounding rude, I just think something\u2019s gone wrong for us to lose that tournament,\u2019 Hawkins said after his second round win over Mark Williams at the Crucible on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

\u2018What\u2019s happened to the 10-year contract we had? It\u2019s just been blown out of the water.<\/p>\n

\u2018We don\u2019t get no explanation, nothing, which is very, very annoying. We just get some stupid email today saying it\u2019s been stopped. No explanation why, nothing. Very disappointing, it\u2019s a massive tournament to lose.<\/p>\n

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Hawkins impressed in his win over Mark Williams (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018It\u2019d be interesting to see what the reason was behind it. I\u2019ve heard something, I don\u2019t know how true it is, but it\u2019s pathetic.\u2019<\/p>\n

Players who have won substantial prize money in Saudi Arabia over the last two years will now not be able to defend it on the two-year rolling system.<\/p>\n

There has been positive news elsewhere on the calendar this week, with the China Open confirmed to return next season, but the \u00a31.2m prize fund in Taiyuan is significantly less than the \u00a32.3m in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

\u2018I suppose that\u2019s one of the downsides to having a money ranking system, because it\u2019s so top heavy,\u2019 said the Hawk.<\/p>\n

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