Saudi Arabia, October 14th, 2024

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), today announced the opening of the new Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy in Riyadh, a vital component in the strategy to grow the sport of snooker in Saudi Arabia and develop new talent.

This outstanding new facility in Boulevard City in the heart of Riyadh will be a training base for players where they can improve their skills in the best possible conditions. The Academy will have five snooker tables made by WST’s long term partner and the world’s leading table manufacturer Star Xingpai.

O’Sullivan himself, snooker’s greatest ever player, will make special trips to Riyadh to coach and foster aspiring talent. The Head Coach will be Nigel Bond, the former world number five and 1996 British Open champion, who will use his experience and knowledge of official WPBSA Coaching techniques.

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said: "Snooker is an exciting part of our vision for Riyadh Season and that is why we are proud to partner with Ronnie O'Sullivan, one of the most successful ever in this sport. It will give all aspiring players in Saudi Arabia access to an elite facility to learn and develop under world-class, experienced coaches, as well as Ronnie, as we look to continue to build on the growing interest in snooker.”

Speaking at the launch, O’Sullivan said: “This is a fantastic new facility and I am excited to be working here alongside the best talent in the Kingdom. In snooker, like most sports, there is no substitute for hard work, and this academy will give players an opportunity practise in a great environment. I would love to see tour players and even World Champions from Saudi Arabia one day, and it will give me great satisfaction to play a role in their development. It’s a pleasure to be working with HE Turki Alalshikh on our shared ambition to bring through new players and grow the sport in the region.”

Jason Ferguson, Chairman of snooker’s global governing body WPBSA, added: “The facilities at this new flagship academy are superb, emphasising the ambition of our partners to provide the best local talent with the opportunity to play in the right environment. And with our all-time greatest Ronnie O’Sullivan as a mentor, they will be inspired by the best. The Saudi Arabian Billiards and Snooker Federation and the GEA have our full support as we align with them on sustainable development. This partnership is long term, we want to build the sport of snooker in Saudi Arabia for decades, as we have done in China over the past 20 years, while providing the best young players with pathways to success.”

Snooker’s fan base is rapidly growing in Saudi Arabia, and the first professional tournaments in the Kingdom have been staged this year. In March, O’Sullivan won the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, then in September, Judd Trump triumphed at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters world ranking event. Further announcements are coming soon as cue sports continue to thrive in the region.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy Launched in Riyadh