The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker is set to kick off on Monday, featuring the participation of the top ten players from the global rankings. This event, hosted at the Boulevard Arena, is the World Snooker Tour's debut in the lucrative Saudi Arabian market. Despite being a non ranking competition, the World Masters of Snooker will present the champion with a prize fund matching that of the prestigious UK Championship and the Masters.
- What? Snooker World Masters 2024
- Where? Boulevard Arena, Riyadh
- When? March 4-6
Below, you can see the odds for the snooker world masters from three of the best sports betting sites.
| World Masters 2024 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | +250 | +250 | +250 |
| Judd Trump | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Mark Selby | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Mark Allen | +650 | +600 | +650 |
| Luca Brecel | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Shaun Murphy | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Ding Junhui | +1800 | TBA | +1800 |
| John Higgins | +1800 | TBA | +1800 |
| Ali Carter | +2000 | +1100 | +2000 |
| Mark Williams | +3300 | +1600 | +3300 |
| Ali Alobaidli | +300000 | +100000 | +300000 |
| Omar Alajlani | +300000 | +100000 | +300000 |
Odds are subject to change
Snooker World Masters Field
Boulevard City in Riyadh is set to host the competition, inviting the top ten players from the official world rankings list. Originally limited to the top eight, the tournament expanded its participant list with two additional slots just before the event commenced.
Leading the lineup are world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan (+250) and reigning world champion Luca Brecel (+1000). The roster includes renowned professionals such as Judd Trump (+300), Mark Allen (+650), Mark Selby (+500), Shaun Murphy (+1400), Mark Williams (+3300), Ali Carter (+2000), Ding Junhui (+1800), and John Higgins (+1800). In addition to these established players, there are two wildcards in the 12-player event, featuring Saudi's Omar Alajlani and Qatari Ali Alobaidli.
Snooker World Masters Betting Picks
The formidable duo of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump spearhead a highly competitive field in the upcoming tournament, with notable contenders like recent Players Championship standout Mark Allen and the resilient Masters runner-up Ali Carter, who secured the final spot.
Anticipation is high for a potential clash between O’Sullivan and Trump in the semi-finals. This scenario that has dominated the betting discussions. Both players have been consistently influential in the season's lucrative events. While O’Sullivan withdrew from the Championship League's final day, citing potential foot issues, his track record in securing substantial prize money this season is indisputable.
The challenge for O’Sullivan lies in beating Mark Williams, a task that precedes a potential match with Trump. In the meantime, Trump faces Shaun Murphy, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to an already compelling narrative. Picking a clear winner between O’Sullivan and Trump remains a challenging task, with each match promising intense competition.
Read our Betonline sportsbook review to determine if this is the best site for your snooker bets.
Golden Ball
A unique twist at this year's World Masters of Snooker introduces a distinctive gimmick involving a golden ball placed on the table at the start of a frame. This specially designated ball carries a value of 20 points and is strategically positioned in the middle of the baulk cushion. Intriguingly, it can only be pocketed at the conclusion of a perfect 147 break.
The golden ball transforms into a dynamic element when a break of 167 is still achievable. During this phase, it becomes a live addition to the game. This could potentially result in fouls if players breach its special conditions. Once a 167 break is no longer within reach, the golden ball is removed from the table.
Adding to the excitement, a huge jackpot bonus of $500,000 awaits the first player who successfully compiles a 167 break during the course of the event. This novel feature promises to inject an extra layer of suspense and strategic play into the tournament.
Snooker World Masters Format
The recent inclusions of Ding Junhui and John Higgins will start their World Masters of Snooker journey by facing off against the two wildcard entries. The victors in these initial matches will progress to take on Mark Williams and Ali Carter in another preliminary round.
From this stage, two players among Ding Junhui, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ali Carter, and the wildcard winners will secure advancement to the quarter finals. In the quarter finals, they will join forces with the top six seeds to vie for a coveted spot in the tournament's penultimate rounds.
Up until the final, all matches will adhere to a best of seven frames format. The final will witness an extended format, escalating to the best of nine frames, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the pinnacle of the competition.
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