Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025: Participants, Schedule and Everything About the Snooker Tournament in Saudi Arabia!

The global Snooker spectacle will shine under the heat of the Middle East: the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 will be held from November 19 to 21 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Twelve top professional players will be in the hunt for the title, and you can follow all the excitement and, of course, place your Sports Bets responsibly!

Hosted at the Globe Theatre in the Boulevard City district, the tournament is one of the most anticipated events on the WST (World Snooker Tour) calendar — part of Riyadh Season, the massive festival that transforms the city into one of the world’s greatest hubs for sports entertainment.

More than a tournament worth the glory of the title, the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship represents the union of tradition and innovation. Although it is a non-ranking event, it brings together the world’s best players for thrilling duels as they compete for £250,000 and attempt to achieve the legendary 167-point Break — made possible by the mysterious Golden Ball, which could award a historic US$1 million prize.

And if you follow professional Snooker or are looking for a different sport to place your predictions on, we have great news: we’ve prepared this complete guide with everything about the competition. So get ready to chalk up your cue tip and keep reading!

What Is the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025?

The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 is one of the most innovative and anticipated events on the WST calendar. This will be the tournament’s third edition, which took some time to materialize — in 2019, the organization announced a 10-year partnership with the Middle Eastern country, but the competition only actually began there in 2024.

This will be the third edition of the championship, which started as the World Masters of Snooker before becoming the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. This time, the event will take place from November 19 to 21 and will once again be hosted in Boulevard City, one of the Gulf region’s key entertainment hubs.

Even though it is a non-ranking event and doesn’t award points towards the world standings, the level of competition is extremely high — combining the elegance of classic Snooker with the bold flair of events staged on Saudi soil.

The previous edition was won by Irishman Mark Allen, who defeated Belgium’s Luca Brecel 5–1 — Brecel had also finished runner-up in the inaugural event, won by England’s Ronnie O’Sullivan 5–2. Another standout was China’s Ding Junhui, who recorded the highest Breaks of both editions: 138 and 143, respectively.

This number matters a lot, as there is a US$1 million prize for anyone who achieves the legendary 167-point Break — possible only by potting the exclusive Golden Ball, an innovation created solely for the Riyadh tournament. As for total prize money, £785,000 will be distributed among participants, including £250,000 for the champion and £125,000 for the runner-up.

Rules and Format of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025

The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 is an exhibition event, meaning it does not award ranking points. However, the tournament is treated with the same prestige as the season’s major championships, bringing together the world’s top players in a more dynamic, fan-friendly format.

Unlike traditional World Snooker Tour events, the Riyadh tournament features shorter matches with a faster pace — ideal for delivering a thrilling experience for both live audiences and broadcast viewers.

All matches are played in a best-of-seven frames format, except for the grand final, which will be best-of-nine. Each frame follows the classic snooker rules, in which the colored balls have distinct point values:

• Red: 1 point
• Yellow: 2 points
• Green: 3 points
• Brown: 4 points
• Blue: 5 points
• Pink: 6 points
• Black: 7 points

The tournament’s main innovation, however, is the introduction of the iconic Golden Ball, exclusive to the Saudi event. It is worth 20 points and can only be played after a perfect 147-point break, known as the Maximum Break. If the player pots it at the end of the sequence, the achievement becomes a super-break of 167 points, the highest possible in the sport’s history.

Beyond the sporting glory, the feat awards a US$1 million bonus — the largest individual reward ever offered for a single snooker play. This innovation has introduced a new level of suspense and spectacle to the tournament, making every match potentially historic.

Participants and Bracket for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025

The 2025 edition of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship will feature 12 competitors, bringing together the most renowned names on the global circuit and two young Saudi prospects who will participate as wildcards. The format maintains the tournament’s tradition: the presence of the defending champion, the current world champion, the top eight players in the world rankings, and two local representatives.

List of Confirmed Participants

• Mark Allen (Northern Ireland): Defending champion, winner of the 2024 edition.
• Zhao Xintong (China): Current world champion and second seed.
• Ronnie O’Sullivan (England): The greatest name in modern snooker history.
• Judd Trump (England): 2019 world champion and one of the circuit’s most charismatic players.
• Neil Robertson (Australia): Known for his technical style and surgical precision.
• Kyren Wilson (England): One of the leading players of the new English generation.
• Mark Williams (Wales): Three-time world champion and a living legend of the sport.
• John Higgins (Scotland): One of snooker’s “Big Four,” multiple-time world champion.
• Ding Junhui (China): The biggest name in Asian snooker history.
• Shaun Murphy (England): 2005 world champion and a consistent presence in major tournaments.
• Ayman Alamri (Saudi Arabia): Three-time national champion, representing the host country.
• Ziyad Al-Qabbani (Saudi Arabia): A 15-year-old rising talent, standout of the Ronnie O’Sullivan Academy.

Bracket Structure

The tournament follows a straight knockout format, divided into four stages:

• First Round (Last 12): The top four seeded players automatically advance to the quarterfinals, while the remaining competitors face off in elimination matches.
• Quarterfinals: The winners of the opening round meet the top seeds.
• Semifinals: The four remaining players advance to best-of-seven matches.
• Final: A best-of-nine showdown will determine the 2025 champion.

The opening match will be between Shaun Murphy and the Saudi player Ziyad Al-Qabbani, followed by Ding Junhui versus Ayman Alamri, marking the debut of the local athletes in an elite competition.

Among the most anticipated clashes are a potential rematch between Mark Allen and Ronnie O’Sullivan, as well as the participation of Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Zhao Xintong — all strong contenders for deep runs in the tournament.

The diversity of styles and generations promises to make this edition one of the most balanced and exciting of the calendar, mixing refined technique, experience, and the freshness of emerging talent.

Schedule and Prize Money for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025

The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 will take place from November 19 to 21 at the luxurious Globe Theatre, located in Boulevard City, Riyadh — one of the world’s most vibrant entertainment hubs. Over just three days of intense competition, the tournament will gather the biggest names in snooker in fast-paced, high-level matches, broadcast live on TNT Sports in the United Kingdom and the World Snooker Tour (WST) digital platforms.

Official Schedule

• November 19 (Wednesday): First Round (Last 12) and Second Round (Round 2)
• November 20 (Thursday): Quarterfinals
• November 21 (Friday): Semifinals in the morning and the Grand Final in the afternoon, played in a best-of-nine format.

The official times follow Riyadh’s timezone (GMT+3), with matches starting at 11:00 and ending around 23:00, maintaining the vibrant atmosphere of the Riyadh Season, which brings together sports, culture and entertainment in one place.

Record Prize Pool for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025

With a total prize fund of £785,000 (approximately R$5.1 million), the Saudi tournament stands out as one of the most lucrative events of the WST season, even as a non-ranking competition. In addition to the traditional prize money in pounds, there is also a special US$1 million (around R$5.6 million) bonus for any player who achieves the “Super-Maximum Break” of 167 points — something only possible if the Golden Ball is potted after a perfect 147 break.

Prize Distribution

• Champion: £250,000 (R$1.6 million)
• Runner-up: £125,000 (R$800,000)
• Semifinalists: £75,000 (R$480,000)
• Quarterfinalists: £50,000 (R$320,000)
• Second Round: £25,000 (R$160,000)
• First Round: £5,000 (R$32,000)
• 167 Break Bonus: US$1 million (R$5.6 million)

This millionaire prize pool reflects not only the prestige of the competition but also Riyadh Season’s commitment to transforming the city into a global hub for sports and entertainment, bringing together elite athletes and attracting millions of viewers worldwide.

With each new edition, the tournament gains increasing relevance and international recognition, establishing itself as one of the most anticipated events on the World Snooker Tour calendar.

Where to Watch the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025

Snooker fans will be able to watch every match of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 live on TNT Sports, the tournament’s official international broadcaster, as well as on the digital platforms of the World Snooker Tour (WST).

For viewers interested in behind-the-scenes content, top shots and exclusive interviews, the official channels of Riyadh Season will also offer clips and live streams on social media, providing a complete experience for audiences around the globe.

Fans in Riyadh can attend the event in person at the Globe Theatre in Boulevard City, with tickets available through the Webook app. Prices start at SAR30 (around R$40), making the event accessible for local fans and tourists who wish to experience the excitement of world-class snooker in one of the most modern venues in the Middle East.

How to Bet on the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025

Even though the official odds are not available yet, Blaze will soon offer a variety of exclusive snooker betting markets for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025. These markets allow different types of analysis and strategies, both for beginners and experienced bettors. Betting Markets at Blaze are:

• Match Winner: bet on who will come out on top in a specific matchup.
• First Frame Winner: ideal for predicting who will start with the early advantage.
• Frame Handicap: provides balance in betting by giving a player an advantage or disadvantage.
• Total Frames (Over/Under): bet on whether the total number of frames played will be above or below a predetermined line.
• Total Points in the First Frame (Over/Under): an option to predict the athletes’ initial performance.
• Race to 3 Frames: who will be the first to reach three frame wins in a match.

These betting types will be available on Blaze’s Snooker page, where players can follow real-time stats, performance history and updated tournament data.

In short and fast-paced matches like those in the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, consistency and focus are decisive factors. Bettors who pay close attention to each player’s style, especially in attacking accuracy and table control, may find good opportunities, particularly in markets such as “First Frame Winner” and “Race to 3 Frames.”

Bet on the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 on Blaze!

Snooker is a sport of precision, strategy and patience — and the same goes for betting, including during the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025. You can place your predictions on the tournament, since SPA (Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas) authorizes betting on this sport in Brazil.

Combining tradition and innovation, the tournament introduces the Golden Ball to expand possibilities for the long-awaited perfect Break — all while you watch big names like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Allen and Zhao Xintong in action.

Remember that betting requires analysis, responsibility and awareness. Study the game rules, event format, data, statistics and player history before placing your predictions. If you need more tips, check out our Sports Betting Encyclopedia to understand how each available market works.

Keep in mind that betting is just a form of entertainment, not an investment or source of income. Set clear limits based on your financial reality and never use money you can’t afford to lose. Betting without understanding the risks of losses and the impact on your mental health can bring serious consequences.

Ready to observe the strategy on the table and pocket your fun? Bet on the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 on Blaze and good luck!