Judd Trump: Saudi Masters a Game-Changer

Judd Trump the world number one has praised the significant prize money at the Saudi Arabia Masters, calling it a long-awaited boost for snooker. The tournament in Riyadh, which is unofficially dubbed the sport’s “fourth major,” offers a massive £2.3 million prize fund including a £500,000 winner’s cheque. Only the World Championship in Sheffield compares in scale. Trump expressed excitement about the event, highlighting the “buzz” around the competition and the opportunity it presents for players to support their families.

He noted that snooker has been hoping for this level of financial reward for over a decade, especially as other sports have increasingly moved toward lucrative deals. Mark Allen, the world number two, acknowledged the life-changing potential of the prize money but emphasized that the focus remains on winning tournaments rather than financial gain. Both Trump and Allen discussed the idea of moving snooker’s World Championship from its traditional home at the Crucible in Sheffield to other locations, although Trump believes there’s no immediate reason for such a move.

Allen also called for a shift in the snooker rankings system, suggesting a move to a points-based system rather than the current format which heavily favors performance in the biggest tournaments. Judd Trump agreed, noting that the dominance of a few major events makes it challenging for other players to achieve the top ranking. Both players avoided engaging in the controversy surrounding Saudi Arabia’s investment in global sports, a practice often criticized as “sportswashing” due to the country’s human rights record.

Allen and Trump stated that their focus remains solely on snooker and not on political issues. In summary, the Saudi Arabia Masters represents a major development in snooker, offering record-breaking prize money and raising questions about the future direction of the sport.