The 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship promises an electrifying invitational showdown as the world’s elite snooker players descend on Riyadh from 19 to 21 November 2025. We break down all the ins and outs of the event so you can follow and enjoy the event at the maximum.
Held at the Globe Theatre in Boulevard City, the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 offers a total prize fund of ÂŁ785,000, with ÂŁ250,000 going to the winner and a $1 million bonus for a special 167 gold-ball break. Short frames, a compact field, and high-pressure conditions make this one of the most thrilling events on the snooker calendar.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | 2025-26 Snooker Season, 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship (Non-ranking event) |
| 🎱 Venue: | Globe Theatre in Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 🗓️ Dates: | 19-21 November 2025 |
The championship takes place as part of the broader Riyadh Season entertainment festival. The field consists of the top eight world-ranked players, two wildcards, a defending champion, and the World Champion, creating a high-quality 12-player lineup. Early rounds are contested over best-of-7 frames, with the final played as best-of-9. Unique to this event is the 20-point gold ball, which can only be potted after a 147 to achieve a 167 break. The compact format and high stakes make each frame decisive, adding intensity to every match.
The tournament’s short history began in 2024, with Ronnie O’Sullivan winning the inaugural edition and Mark Allen lifting the title in the most recent final. Despite its youth, the Riyadh Championship snooker 2025 edition has quickly gained a reputation for high-quality matches and dramatic finishes, attracting the biggest names on the World Snooker Tour.
The 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship odds highlight a competitive field with several standout contenders. According to the major snooker sites for betting, Judd Trump is the favorite at 4.0 (3/1), followed by Zhao Xintong at about 5.0 (4/1); Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, and legendary Ronnie O’Sullivan are at around 6.0 (5/1). Despite being the defending champion, Mark Allen is priced at 7.0 (6/1).
Each player brings distinct strengths, and these odds reflect the market’s assessment of their chances under Riyadh’s unique short-frame format.
Judd Trump enters Riyadh as the clear favorite, reflecting his aggressive style and ability to dominate short-frame matches. His break-building prowess allows him to seize momentum early, and his composure under pressure makes him a consistent threat. With recent strong form and a history of success in invitational events, Trump is well-positioned to contend for the £250,000 top prize. Backing him also aligns with major betting predictions and fits well with a 2025-26 WST trend of no repetitive winners, and The Ace in the Pack hasn’t yet lifted trophies in the new season.
Zhao Xintong is one of the most intriguing challengers at the moment. Known for precise potting and tactical patience, Zhao thrives in compact, high-stakes formats. His ability to remain calm and capitalize on opponents’ mistakes makes him a danger in the early rounds and beyond. Bettors seeking a value pick may find that Zhao fits well with Riyadh Season Championship 2025 snooker predictions and can earn his first season trophy.
Neil Robertson, priced at 6.0 (5/1), offers experience, big-break potential, and adaptability. He can quickly compile high scores and navigate tricky matches, traits essential for the fast-paced Riyadh environment. Robertson’s consistency on tour and ability to adjust to opponents’ styles make him a strong candidate for a deep run, consistent with several 2025 snooker Riyadh Season Championship analyses. He should also be in a good mood with returning to the country, where he won the Saudi Arabia Masters in a close (10-9) battle against O’Sullivan in August.
Kyren Wilson is a steady and resilient contender. While less flashy than Trump or Robertson, his tactical intelligence allows him to control scrappy frames and pressure opponents into errors. Wilson’s patience and focus make him particularly dangerous in the short-frame, high-pressure format, echoing some of the World Snooker Tour 2025-26 odds assessments for his chances.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is priced at a respectable 6.0 (5/1), reflecting his legendary skill but slightly lower market favoritism. The Rocket’s ability to produce extraordinary breaks quickly and turn matches around makes him an attractive high-value pick. With the £250,000 top prize and gold-ball incentive on the line, O’Sullivan could thrive under pressure, a scenario many World Snooker Tour pundits consider plausible. Alongside Trump, he hasn’t yet won a trophy in the new season and can continue the trend with a victory in Riyadh.
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For the outright winner, backing Judd Trump is a logical choice. His aggressive style, high break-building capability, and proven performance in invitational short-frame events make him the strongest candidate. Trump can seize control early in matches and maintain momentum through decisive frames. Combined with the lure of the top prize and the potential gold-ball 167, he represents a solid, value-conscious bet that aligns with broader 2025 snooker Riyadh Season Championship predictions. Even if you don’t believe in the WST 25/26 trend of no repetitive winners, backing a hungrier Judd makes a lot of sense.
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A second key pick is John Higgins to reach the final, which is based on his bracket path. In fact, the upper part of the bracket seems way easier, with O’Sullivan, Trump, and Xintong all being in the lower part. Of course, Allen, Wilson, Robertson, and Junhui have never been easy opponents, but beating them looks more realistic for an experienced Scott. Higgins already showed a good level of precision and calmness in Nanjing, losing only in the final, which makes him an ideal dark-horse contender, capable of upsetting higher-profile opponents. In a compact field where every frame matters, he could exceed expectations, matching some of the market’s Riyadh Season Championship snooker 2025 insights.
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For another speculative play, backing the legend and the best in terms of 147-point breaks makes sense. The absence of the Gold Ball is probably the only achievement that doesn’t belong to Ronnie, who has had enough mental problems in recent years and doesn’t look like a title contender. Still, when he is healthy and focused enough, he can make the magic, and his main goal at the event can be the 167-point break, not the victory he already gained in the maiden event last year.
The 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship promises thrilling snooker under high-pressure conditions, and here are our recommendations:
With a top-tier field including Trump, Zhao, Robertson, Wilson, O’Sullivan, and Allen, and short-frame intensity amplifying every mistake, bettors have multiple opportunities to explore value. From outright wins to high-break bonuses, Riyadh combines spectacle and strategy. Those following our best snooker tips for betting can easily identify the favorites and even try some high-value options in this must-watch invitational event with the extra spice of the gold ball.
