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JEDDAH: Ronnie O’Sullivan is excited to be back in the Kingdom for the Masters Snooker Championship in Jeddah.

“I love being here in ������Ƶ at the Snooker Masters and enjoying its unique atmosphere,” he said on Monday of the contest which began on Aug. 8 and ends on Saturday.

“������Ƶ has set a wonderful example in hosting international tournaments. From the moment you arrive, you feel the grandeur of the tournament and the wonderful experience,” he added.

The organizing committee of the championship held a press conference on Monday attended by Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation President Naif Al-Jaweini, World Snooker Tour Chairman Steve Dawson, and ������Ƶ’s female referee Najla Al-Nuaimi.

Al-Jaweini lauded the Ministry of Sports’ role in the event, including the partnership with Matchroom and the WST.

“We are still at the beginning of the road, and in the coming years we will achieve many accomplishments to develop the level of players and referees, and we are pleased to welcome the world’s elite players to this prestigious tournament,” said Al-Jaweini.

The WST’s Dawson said: “The professional organization in ������Ƶ is on par with the largest international tournaments.”

He added that ������Ƶ’s decision to host the event for 10 years would  “contribute to the development of the game and building a base of talent, players, and referees capable of competing in the world rankings.”

Al-Naimi said: “I am proud to represent ������Ƶ in the field of refereeing, and I hope to see more Saudi women in this field of this distinguished sport.

“The tournament has given me a wealth of experience by rubbing shoulders with the best referees in the world.”

Defending champion Judd Trump also had praise for the Kingdom’s organization.

“Since the first edition, the attendance and interest have been evident, leaving us with many beautiful memories. It would be great to play against a Saudi player in the future, and perhaps see one of them become a world champion.”

CHENGDU: Three UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team athletes have succeeded in winning medals on the second day of the World Games Chengdu 2025.

Saeed Al-Kubaisi claimed gold in the under-85kg division after a series of strong bouts against opponents from Portugal, South Korea and ������Ƶ. Mehdi Al-Awlaki won silver in the under-77kg division, while Mohammed Al-Suwaidi earned silver in the under-69kg division.

Considered a global showpiece for sports yet to be included in the Olympic Games, the 12th World Games, which runs in the Chinese city from Aug. 7-17, features nearly 5,000 athletes from 118 countries competing across 34 sports, making it one of the most prominent international sporting events.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “Jiu-jitsu in the UAE has proven its excellence and its ability to succeed at every opportunity, supported by the sport’s continued growth and the achievements of our national team on both continental and global stages. Our athletes have consistently made the nation proud in regional and international arenas, and today’s result is even more significant given the presence of top-ranked competitors from around the world. This success is the result of the federation’s ongoing efforts and initiatives to prepare our athletes to perform at the highest level.”

Gold medallist Al-Kubaisi said: “I entered the championship confident in my ability to win gold, as it’s the natural result of the hard work and intensive training we’ve put in over recent months. I want to thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for the support they have given us, helping us reach this stage and make our mark at a global event of this scale.”

Meanwhile, Al-Awlaki said: “The final was tough, but I never gave up and kept pushing until the last second because my goal was gold. I’m happy to take silver in such an important championship, and I’m confident there is more to come.”

On Tuesday, Emirati athletes will compete in the open weight division, with Al-Awlaki, Al-Kubaisi and Al-Suwaidi in the men’s category, and Asma Alhosani, Shamsa Al-Amri and Shamma Al-Kalbani in the women’s category.