Barry Hawkins has voiced his frustrations over the cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Masters, slamming the ‘pathetic’ loss of the big-money event.
The ranking event was first staged in 2024, when Judd Trump beat Mark Williams in the Riyadh final, which saw him land the enormous £500,000 top prize.
The tournament was announced as a 10-year deal, but last year’s edition in Jeddah – won by Neil Robertson – has proved to be the last.
World Snooker Tour wrote in a statement on Saturday: ‘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.’
The loss of the tournament comes amid the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) re-evaluating their financial approach to sport, pulling out of LIV Golf investment and plans to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup.
The PIF has entered a ‘Value Realization’ period from 2026-30, with some projects falling by the wayside as the 2034 football World Cup becomes the focus.
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The war in Iran has also added ‘more pressure to reposition some priorities,’ according to PIF governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan.
Hawkins is not entirely sympathetic, though, very unhappy to see the second biggest tournament on the calendar – in terms of prize fund – axed just two years into a 10-year contract.
‘What a disappointment, without sounding rude, I just think something’s gone wrong for us to lose that tournament,’ Hawkins said after his second round win over Mark Williams at the Crucible on Saturday night.
‘What’s happened to the 10-year contract we had? 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 today saying it’s been stopped. No explanation why, nothing. Very disappointing, it’s a massive tournament to lose.
‘It’d be interesting to see what the reason was behind it. I’ve heard something, I don’t know how true it is, but it’s pathetic.’
Players who have won substantial prize money in Saudi Arabia over the last two years will now not be able to defend it on the two-year rolling system.
There has been positive news elsewhere on the calendar this week, with the China Open confirmed to return next season, but the £1.2m prize fund in Taiyuan is significantly less than the £2.3m in Saudi Arabia.
‘I suppose that’s one of the downsides to having a money ranking system, because it’s so top heavy,’ said the Hawk.
‘Now these guys like Neil Robertson and Judd Trump, they haven’t got a chance to defend that £500,000, that’s just gonna be wiped off, and there’s no tournament to replace that.
‘Obviously we’ve got the China Open, but we lose a big one and gain another one, so we’re not no further forward.
‘So, yeah, really disappointed, because it’s a big part of the season, massive part of season. Like I say, we get some silly email, not even an explanation why we lost it. So, yeah, very disappointed.’
The Welsh Open champion continued: ‘It was a 10-year contract. It has disappeared, so I mean, what is it just not worth [anything]… Where’s it gone? If they sign a contract, why has it just disappeared like that? I don’t understand.
‘Like I say, it’s so disappointing, just get an email today saying, “Oh, we’ve been so well supported.” And, you know, to be honest, there was no one in the crowd anyway. I’ve heard the reasons why it wasn’t promoted that well.
‘I normally don’t say much, but yeah, I’m very unhappy about it, to be honest with you.’
Hawkins will be focussed on action in Sheffield rather than Saudi Arabia when he takes on Mark Allen in the Crucible quarter-finals, starting on Tuesday.