Ronnie O’Sullivan to start new role after signing groundbreaking three-year deal with Saudi Arabian snooker chiefs
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has agreed to become an ambassador for Saudi Arabian snooker.
An announcement on Tuesday revealed the Rocket had penned terms on a three-year deal with the Gulf State.
It came alongside the World Snooker Championship expanding its collaboration with Riyadh Season to become an official partner.
Terms of the deal mean World No1 O’Sullivan will commit to playing in all World Snooker Tour (WST) events in Saudi Arabia.
The announcement also confirmed the World Masters of Snooker will return to the calendar next season.
O’Sullivan, 48, enjoyed his time playing in the inaugural event in Riyadh last month, where he claimed a 5-2 victory over Luca Brecel in the final.
There was the chance to win a staggering £400,000 if he potted a new golden ball maximum break of 167, but no one managed to do so, with only John Higgins – one of snooker’s Class of 92 alongside O’Sullivan – coming close.
That prize has now been doubled to £800,000 for next season.
Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), said: “Riyadh Season is delighted to be a partner of the World Snooker Championship, which will start next Saturday and continues until May 6 at Crucible in Sheffield.”
O’Sullivan‘s new deal as an ambassador also comes with a teaching role.
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He will make special trips to the Middle East to teach and foster the next generation of budding snooker players in the country.
On his time there, O’Sullivan said: “Playing in Riyadh last month was an amazing experience, I love the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the fans. We can make snooker huge in Saudi Arabia.
“So I am excited by this chance to work to grow the sport there and the opportunity to coach the best young talent and pass on my experience.
“I’m also relishing the chance to play in more big events in the Kingdom, and to work alongside HE Turki Alalshikh on his ambitions.”
WST Chairman Steve Dawson added: “We are honoured to work with HE Turki Alalshikh on his visionary plans for progress.
“We share his ambition of bringing snooker to many more fans across the Middle East, and to foster new talent and develop grassroots structures…
'I'd rather not have the snooker, just a normal family' - Inside Ronnie O'Sullivan's troubled childhood
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has enjoyed an incredible career as snooker's biggest star.
But the Rocket’s turbulent past has led to struggles with mental health, addiction and yo-yo weight battles.
O’Sullivan’s parents ran a chain of sex shops in Essex and his father was jailed for 20 years for murder when he was just 16.
In the Amazon documentary The Edge of Everything, the snooker icon admitted his dad going to prison had a profound effect.
He said: “I didn’t want to blame everything on that situation with my dad, but I was thinking, ‘I’d rather not have the snooker. just a normal family’. Because… It was a dream, but looking back, it was a nightmare.”
Just a year later, Ronnie became the youngest ever UK Champion, seven days before his 18th birthday. Then at 19, in 1994, he became the youngest Masters champion.
But he has already begun to binge on drink and drugs and, when his mum was sent to prison for tax evasion, in 1996, he struggled to cope with looking after his eight–year-old sister alone.
Click here to read more about Ronnie’s incredible life…
“The inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker was a fabulous event and many of the players enjoyed the atmosphere created by the local fans.
“We look forward to returning to the Kingdom in the summer for the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, which will be the first ever world ranking event in the region.
“These tournaments grow the sport and provide fantastic opportunities for the players to compete for outstanding prize money.”