Riyadh: Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Alalshikh announced the launch of ticket sales for the Riyadh Season World Snooker Championship 167, which will kick off on November 19. The tournament will feature a lineup of the world’s top snooker stars, including England’s Ronnie O’Sullivan, Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, Scotland’s John Higgins, Wales’ Mark Williams, China’s Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong, and Saudi players Ziyad Al Qabbani and Ayman Alamri, who will make their first appearance in the tournament.
According to Saudi Press Agency, this year’s edition continues the innovation of the ‘Golden Ball’, introduced by Turki Alalshikh, which is worth 20 points and awards a $1 million prize to the player who pots it, making a maximum break of 167 points possible – the highest in the history of the game.
The championship will take place at the Global Theater in Boulevard City from November 19 to 21, organized in collaboration between Riyadh Season and the World Snooker Tour (WST). The event will feature thrilling competition from the preliminary rounds through to the final on November 21, with all rounds played in a best-of-seven format and the final in a best-of-nine format.
Tickets to attend and watch the championship can be booked via the Webook app, through the link https://webook.com/en/events/riyad-season-snooker-tournament-rs25-tickets-383746.
Saudi wildcard and national junior champion Ziyad Al Qabbani, age just 15, expressed his excitement about competing in the tournament, particularly the chance to face Shaun Murphy. Supported by the Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy, Al Qabbani is practicing diligently with the ambition to improve his skills and hopes to compete equally with the big stars one day.
The second wildcard, Ayman Alamri, a three-time Saudi national champion, shared his gratitude for the opportunity to compete against the world’s top ten players in this event, which is a significant part of Riyadh Season. He hopes to play his best against Ding Junhui on the opening day and inspire more Saudis to take up snooker.
The tournament underscores Riyadh Season’s position as a leading global entertainment destination, attracting major international events and stars as part of its ongoing efforts to deliver exceptional experiences that combine sports and entertainment, reinforcing Riyadh’s presence on the global stage.
