John Higgins is wanting ahead to returning to the Center East after the latest bulletins of latest tournaments in Saudi Arabia.

The four-time world champion is completely happy to see snooker observe within the footsteps of different sports activities which have taken benefit of the riches on provide within the area.

The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker will happen subsequent month, that includes the highest eight gamers from the world rankings plus two wildcards.

Subsequent season, there’ll moreover be a profitable rating occasion for all of the circuit’s professionals.

The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – dubbed the “fourth main” by the World Snooker Tour – will boast a complete prize fund that’s second solely to the blue-riband World Championship.

Given the extensively reported human rights points in Saudi Arabia, loads of followers have expressed disdain for the game’s resolution to maneuver into the nation.

However Higgins, who competed in three editions of the Dubai Traditional within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, is wanting ahead to the prospect of returning to that space of the world.

“It’s nice, as a result of we used to play out within the Center East a few years in the past once I first turned professional in 1992,” John Higgins informed Sportsboom.com.

“Nevertheless it’s been a protracted break since I’ve been over there. I used to like taking part in in Bahrain, so hopefully this will probably be the same expertise.”

“All the opposite prime sports activities appear to be breaking into Saudi Arabia and succeeding, so why not us?

“It’s an ideal announcement, and it makes it much more thrilling with the 10-year-deal and the prize cash going up and up. It’s nice for all of the tour.”

The Scot was talking after his 6-4 victory over Ding Junhui within the first spherical of this week’s Gamers Championship.

Higgins compiled two century breaks as he fought again from 3-2 right down to beat the Chinese language competitor on the Telford Worldwide Centre.

“Sensible efficiency from me as a result of I’ve all the time struggled towards Ding,” the 48 year-old added.

“He all the time had my quantity, however the previous few occasions we confronted I’ve managed to beat him. I fee him so extremely, he’s only a fabulous participant.”

“(My kind) is getting higher compared to the beginning of the 12 months. There have been a couple of issues going fallacious for me, however I’ve been preventing with my approach.

“I appear to be on prime of that now, so I’m feeling a lot better and suppose I’ve obtained a very good likelihood to progress onto a ultimate now.”

Higgins, who gained the Gamers Championship in 2021, will tackle both Zhang Anda or Noppon Saengkham within the quarter-finals.

Judd Trump, in the meantime, additionally prevailed from his opening-round encounter on day one of many competitors due to a 6-2 defeat of Chris Wakelin.

World champion Ronnie O’Sullivan enters the fray on Tuesday night towards Zhou Yuelong.

2024 Gamers Championship draw

Spherical of 16 (bo11)

Occasions in UTC

Judd Trump 6-2 Chris Wakelin
Tom Ford vs Ali Carter
(Tues, 7pm)

Mark Williams 3-6 Mark Allen
Gary Wilson 6-4 Hossein Vafaei

Zhang Anda vs Noppon Saengkham
(Wed, 1pm)
Ding Junhui 4-6 John Higgins

Barry Hawkins vs Mark Selby
(Wed, 1pm)
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Zhou Yuelong
(Tues, 7pm)

Quarter-Finals (bo11)

Matches to be performed from Wednesday night to Friday afternoon.
Schedule to be confirmed.

Judd Trump vs Ford/Carter
Mark Allen vs Gary Wilson

Zhang/Saengkham vs John Higgins
Hawkins/Selby vs O’Sullivan/Zhou

Semi-Finals (bo11)

Matches to be performed on Friday night and Saturday night.
Schedule to be confirmed.

TBC vs TBC
TBC vs TBC

Closing (bo19)

Match to be performed on Sunday at 1pm and 7pm.

TBC vs TBC

Featured picture credit score: WST