$250,000 first prize, total pool biggest in event’s history Top Saudis in draw alongside world No. 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz JEDDAH: The world’s best billiards players arrived in Jeddah on Sunday to compete for $1 million in prizes at the Saudi Arabia World Pool Championship 2024. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport This is the first time the Kingdom has hosted a World Nineball Tour event and the $250,000 first prize and total pool are the biggest in its history. A total of 128 players will compete in the event, which runs from Monday to Saturday at the Green Halls. “The World Nineball Tour is a global professional pool tour committed to staging world-class international sporting events,” Emily Frazer, managing director of Matchroom Multi Sport, said on Sunday. “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation. We are incredibly grateful … for this unique opportunity. We believe this landmark 10-year deal will provide the catalyst to developing the stars for tomorrow from this country.” She added that the inaugural Saudi Junior Championship would run alongside the elite event, from Monday to Friday, at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal City Sports Hall in Jeddah. Nasser Saab Al-Shammari, president of the SABSF, said: “This is a historical moment for Saudi Arabia as we are hosting this elite tournament for the next 10 years and we welcome world class talents to play live in front of our fans here. “This is really extremely special for us to host the top stars but also we are very happy to see the best 13 local Saudi players take part in this international tournament, which will give them the experience of a lifetime.” World Nineball Tour No. 1 and reigning champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz said: “The world championship in Saudi Arabia marks a historic moment for pool and I am really looking forward to defending my title among the world’s best in Jeddah.” The Spaniard said that while he had been in the Kingdom he had also been able to watch the King’s Cup football final and see his favorite player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Also in this week’s field are five-time US Open champion and 2022 world champion Shane Van Boening, 2018 world champion Joshua Filler and Europe’s No. 1 Jayson Shaw. The field comprises the top 100 from the World Nineball Tour rankings and 28 wildcards, including Germany’s Pia Filler — the only woman in the event — and several Saudi players. Among the locals are Saad Aldress, Ahmed Al-Jabar, Khalid Alotaibi, Ahmed Fairaq, Khalid Al-Ghamdi, Hussain Mustafa, Ahmed Al-Ahmadi, Fahad Alharbi, Nawaf Shamardal and Othman Alzahrani. The Kingdom’s No. 1, Al-Jabar, said he was delighted to be able to compete against the best pool players in the world. “First of all, I am honored to represent my country in this elite tournament along with my other Saudi players and glad to have the opportunity to compete directly and experience a world-leading tournament right in Saudi Arabia,” he said. Fans of nine-ball pool can watch the tournament via Matchrooom’s broadcast partners, Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and Saudi Sports Center.