Barry Hawkins reacts to cancellation of Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters
Barry Hawkins has expressed frustration following his victory against Mark Williams in light of the sudden announcement that the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has been cancelled after only two editions, reports BritPanorama.
The tournament, which was established in 2024 and boasted the largest prize fund outside of Britain at £2.3 million—with the champion set to receive £500,000—had been hailed as snooker’s unofficial “fourth major.” However, it has now been abruptly halted, despite an initial ten-year partnership.
A statement from the World Snooker Tour confirmed the cancellation: “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.”
After his win over Williams, Hawkins criticized the manner in which players were informed of the cancellation. He stated, “What a disappointment. Without sounding rude, something’s gone wrong for us to lose that tournament. What’s happened to the 10-year contract? It’s just been blown out of the water. We don’t get no explanation, nothing, which is very, very annoying. We just get some stupid email saying it’s been stopped. No explanation, nothing. Very disappointing, it’s a massive tournament to lose. It’d be interesting to see the reason behind it.”
Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport, acknowledged the challenges posed by regional instability affecting snooker’s presence in the Gulf. He noted, “Saudi is a problem. We don’t know where that problem’s going to lead to, but we’ve got good influence there, particularly through the boxing and all the other sports we do.” He added, “We can’t interfere with what’s going on at the moment. This is a terribly difficult time for the Middle East.”
Hearn also highlighted the broader implications for snooker: “Saudi, whether we’re talking LIV Tour [golf] or other Olympic sports, are looking to cut back, which is fine, providing we’ve got other places to go, which we do. So on the one hand we’re looking at Saudi and saying, ‘Yes, there will be snooker in Saudi,’ but in fairness I can’t tell you what exactly at the moment until this problem changes.”
The inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters took place in September 2024, with Judd Trump defeating Williams in a tense final that ended 10-9. The second edition occurred in August 2025 in Jeddah, where Neil Robertson overcame Ronnie O’Sullivan by the same scoreline. The cancellation is set to have significant ramifications for player rankings, as points derived from prize money earned at these events are crucial to maintaining their positions in the world standings.
In a sport that relies heavily on the sense of continuity and growth, the abrupt withdrawal of such a high-profile tournament serves as a stark reminder of the uncertainties within snooker’s global landscape, underscoring how economic and political shifts can echo through the corridors of competitive play. With snooker’s future in the Middle East now uncertain, the players and fans alike will watch closely for any signs of resolution.
