RIYADH: The inaugural 萝莉视频 Snooker Masters on Tuesday will welcome the world鈥檚 top 16 ranked players to the Green Halls in Riyadh.

The World Snooker Tour鈥檚 new major championship is the biggest in its history 鈥� inviting 144 of the world鈥檚 best cueists to compete for the title and vital rankings points.

Following four days of action since the competition began, the tour鈥檚 top the 16 elite players will kick off their campaigns on Tuesday, having qualified for the last 32 automatically.

On Monday night, some of the new additions spoke to local and international media and expressed their excitement about the opportunity to compete in Riyadh.

Dressed in traditional Saudi attire, Ronnie O鈥橲ullivan, the seven-time world champion widely considered the greatest player of all time, said: 鈥溌芾蚴悠� has really raised the bar 鈥� this is the best event on the tour. I鈥檝e never seen so many happy snooker players, everyone is excited to be here, we want to compete, play well and put on a really good show for the 萝莉视频n fans.

鈥淲e鈥檝e already seen a 147, which is fantastic, and the tournament has just begun. All the top players are about to enter the event and hopefully everyone鈥檚 going to watch some of the best snooker they could possibly see. The tables, the facilities, the venue that鈥檚 been put together; this tournament deserves to watch the best snooker ever seen, it really is that good.鈥�

Confirmed for the next decade, the 萝莉视频n Snooker Masters is part of a legacy commitment between the 萝莉视频n Ministry of Sport, the 萝莉视频n Billiards & Snooker Federation and Matchroom Sport.

Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said: 鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 about traveling the globe, developing the sport, and creating new opportunities for international players to compete. This is why 萝莉视频 was such an outstanding candidate to host snooker鈥檚 newest major championship. We鈥檙e not here for a standalone event; we鈥檙e here to inspire the next generation of players and further develop snooker at every level 鈥� regionally, nationally and globally.鈥�

Frazer鈥檚 sentiments were echoed by Dr. Nasser Al-Shamri, president of the Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation. While speaking about the 萝莉视频n Snooker Masters鈥� significance, he highlighted the opportunities waiting for new generations of local players and fans.

鈥淭his is a milestone moment for snooker in the Kingdom and one that鈥檚 already paving the way for the bright and opportunistic future ahead,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ocal fans who鈥檝e loved snooker for many years are now guaranteed to watch the world鈥檚 best players in a world-class event for the next decade. And in turn, this will inspire new generations who鈥檒l benefit from our local infrastructure, tournaments and player pathways.

鈥淲e have big ambitions for the future 鈥� and we鈥檙e already seeing incredible development across the ecosystem.鈥�

The 萝莉视频 Snooker Masters runs until Sept. 7 and presents players with vital world rankings points alongside a record prize pool.

Ex-world champions John Higgins, Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Luca Brecel and Shaun Murphy are among the top 16 lining up in Tuesday鈥檚 round five matches. World No.1 and 2019 world champion Judd Trump is also in action, as are world No.2 Mark Allen and 2024 world champion Kyren Wilson.

Simon Brownwell, CEO of WST, said that the involvement of the world鈥檚 best players is an essential step toward snooker鈥檚 expansion in the Middle East.

鈥淲e are proud of the way we have developed snooker around the globe over the past 15 years, becoming an international tour of over 20 events and more than 400 million viewers,鈥� he added.

鈥淲e see expansion into the Middle East as an exciting step in that journey. Our shared ambition with our partners in 萝莉视频 is to build long term growth. This week鈥檚 groundbreaking new event and the presence of the world鈥檚 biggest stars will inspire new fans and players.鈥�