Stephen Hendry admits that, as a player, he would have loved the new opportunities for snooker that are available in the Middle East.
But the seven-time world champion expressed concern for what impact it might have on the sport as a whole.
Last season, snooker went to Saudi Arabia for the first time with the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters that was won by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
There have been two further competitions staged during the ongoing campaign – with all three events in 2024 generating huge prize funds.
At the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – the country’s inaugural ranking event – Judd Trump took home a top prize worth £500,000 that matched the sum on offer at the World Snooker Championship.
A jackpot bonus of a staggering $1 million for the gimmicky 167 break – featuring a newly introduced golden ball – was additionally available for players at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in December.
Nobody managed to avail of the windfall, but it indicated the monetary clout countries in the Middle East can have, with Qatar also touted as a potential destination in the future.
At all three of the Saudi Arabian events, however, the crowd levels were very low – something that Hendry fears could impact the sport negatively, particularly if its blue-riband tournament eventually ends up in the Middle East.
“I think the Middle Eastern influence for the players is going to be great,” Stephen Hendry said on ITV when asked about how he sees snooker in five or ten years.
“I mean, you’ve seen the financial rewards already on offer in the tournaments that they’re running in Saudi Arabia.”
“So if I was playing nowadays, I would obviously love that. My only fear is obviously the World Championship going there.
“I’m sure the players would love it, I’m sure it’d probably be £2 million for the winner. But for 17 days?
“You know, you go to the Crucible and the atmosphere feels incredible. It’s full every day and in every session.
“Do we want to watch a World Championship where there’s no one sat there watching for a lot of the sessions?
“I’m sure the final would be well supported, but for 17 days will it be full for every match? Players playing with zero atmosphere.
“That would be my only fear about it. But going onwards, in five or ten years, I see…obviously the BBC have signed a new long term contract to 2032.
“I’m sure other TV channels will follow suit. So I think the future is good for snooker.
“In terms of playing wise, player wise, I reckon probably half the top 16 will be Chinese. You can’t see John [Higgins], Mark [Williams], Ronnie [O’Sullivan] going on forever.
“So yeah, I think player wise at the top end will look quite different.”
Stephen Hendry was speaking during the 2025 Players Championship in Telford, where there is a champion’s cheque of £150,000 up for grabs.
Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, and Neil Robertson have already booked their spots in the last four of the season’s third-last ranking event.
Either John Higgins and Xiao Guodong will join them with the pair contesting the last quarter-final tie on Friday afternoon.
Featured photo credit: ITV Sport
