Saudi Arabia to host World Snooker tournament with Luca Brecel and Ronnie O’Sullivan set to compete

The invitational event will take place between March 4-6 at Boulevard Arena in Riyadh.

World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson said: “It is a great privilege for the World Snooker Tour to work in partnership with HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh to stage an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

“This is a huge breakthrough for snooker into a new territory, and we see this as the beginning of a new adventure for our sport in the region.

“We are looking forward to being a part of Riyadh Season on this fantastic new  event featuring the world’s best players.

"We will be honored to bring our sport to the amazing city of Riyadh, and for the local fans this will be their first chance to see some of snooker’s all-time greats.”

Although matches will be played under World Snooker rules, a 23rd ball known as the “Riyadh Season ball” will be introduced.

The ball will be worth 20 points and can only be potted once all other balls have been successfully cleared from the table if a player is on a maximum break to make it 167.

HE Advisor Alalshikh said: “We are thrilled to be hosting our first-ever professional snooker tournament in the Kingdom.

"Snooker is watched and played by millions around the world and we look forward to welcoming some of the greatest players and snooker fans to our country and showing them what Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season has to offer.”