Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2024: Mark Allen’s Triumph

The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship concluded on December 20, 2024, with Mark Allen emerging as the champion after a decisive 5-1 victory over Luca Brecel in the final. Here’s an overview of the tournament:

Tournament Structure and Matches:

• The event was held at the Global Theatre in Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 18 to 20, 2024. It featured 12 players, including the top 10 from the official snooker rankings plus two local wildcard players, Abdulraouf Saigh and Ahmed Aseeri.
• Matches were played in a best-of-seven format up to the final, which was best-of-nine frames. The tournament included players like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, and Mark Williams, adding significant star power to the event.

Match Progression:

Here’s a more comprehensive overview of all the matches in the 2024 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship:

Round 1 (Best of 7 Frames):

• Ding Junhui (9) vs. Abdulraouf Saigh (WC): Ding Junhui won 4-0, showcasing his form with a high break of 143.
• Zhang Anda (10) vs. Ahmed Aseeri (WC): Zhang Anda secured a 4-1 victory.

Round 2 (Best of 7 Frames):

• Ding Junhui vs. Mark Williams (7): Mark Williams turned the match around to win 4-2, demonstrating resilience.
• Zhang Anda vs. Shaun Murphy (8): Shaun Murphy clinched a close 4-3 win.

Quarter-finals (Best of 7 Frames):

• Luca Brecel (1) vs. Shaun Murphy: Brecel came through with a 4-2 victory.
• Mark Allen (5) vs. Mark Selby (3): Allen won 4-2, with breaks of 65, 76, and 75.
• Kyren Wilson (2) vs. Mark Williams: Williams edged out Wilson 4-3, in a tightly contested match.
• Ronnie O’Sullivan (4) vs. Judd Trump (6): O’Sullivan triumphed 4-2, continuing his pursuit of another title.

Semi-finals (Best of 7 Frames):

• Luca Brecel vs. Kyren Wilson: Brecel advanced to the final with a 4-3 win, showing strong play under pressure.
• Mark Allen vs. Ronnie O’Sullivan: Allen managed a 4-2 victory with a notable 134 clearance in the deciding frame, ousting the defending champion.

Final (Best of 9 Frames):

• Mark Allen vs. Luca Brecel: Allen dominated the final, winning 5-1, with century breaks of 104 and 109, securing the championship and £250,000.

Highlights and Notes Of Riyadh Season Snooker 2024:

• Throughout the tournament, the possibility of achieving a 167 break with the gold “Riyadh Season ball” added intrigue, although no player managed to do so.
• Mark Allen’s performance was particularly notable, not just for his win but for his consistent high-quality play against some of the best players in the world.
• The event was also marked by competitive matches, with several going down to deciding frames, highlighting the high level of competition.
• Despite the absence of a 167, Ding Junhui compiled the highest break of the tournament with a 143 in the second round, showing the level of play and competitive spirit.

This tournament showcased the skill, strategy, and drama inherent in snooker, with Mark Allen’s journey to victory being one of the standout stories of the event.

Golden Ball 167 @ Riyadh Snooker Season Championship 2024

One of the most captivating aspects of the tournament was the introduction of the Riyadh Season ball, a gold ball worth 20 points that could only be potted after achieving a traditional 147 break. This would extend the break to 167, and for the first time, a prize of $1 million USD was offered for this feat. No player managed to achieve this, but the possibility added a layer of excitement to each match.

Prize Money and Incentives:

• The total prize pool was £785,000, with Allen taking home £250,000 for his win, matching his career’s highest payday. The $1 million USD incentive for a 167 break was a significant draw, although it remained unclaimed, it underscored the tournament’s ambition to add a spectacular element to snooker.

Cultural Impact and Audience:

• The event was part of the Riyadh Season, an initiative to promote tourism and entertainment in Saudi Arabia. It helped in showcasing the country’s growing interest in hosting international sports events, contributing to its cultural and economic landscape.