Saudi Masters LIVE – Lines, Evans and White in action as record-breaking event begins

MERTENS 3-0 ALOTAYYANI (62-24)

A closing break of 40 from Ben Mertens. And the concession comes from Abdullah. A 4-0 win for Mertens, who next faces China’s Long Zehuang.

MERTENS 3-0 ALOTAYYANI (51-16)

A tough learning curve for the local lads. Mertens inching towards victory as a brilliant red along the top cushion drops. But he then misses a fairly easy black to leave his opponent needing snookers.

MERTENS 3-0 ALOTAYYANI (40-16)

Really nice cue ball control from Ben in this break. Makes 40, but can’t get an angle to attack the remaining pack of reds. Just safety to follow with five more reds left up.

MERTENS 3-0 ALOTAYYANI (0-16)

Chance for Abdullah to get his cue arm working early in the fourth frame, but he misses a straight pink on 15. And you can’t afford to make errors like that at this level. Awful miss. And he knows it.

MERTENS 2-0 ALOTAYYANI (72-9)

Blue to left middle stays out when a century looked on the cards, but 72 gets the job done every day of the week. A 3-0 lead for Ben. Looking for one more frame to seal the deal.

MERTENS 2-0 ALOTAYYANI (50-9)

And Mertens is really showing his class now. Under little or no pressure from his opponent, and is starting to pot balls for fun. Almost over the line for a 3-0 line in Riyadh in his tournament opener.

MERTENS 2-0 ALOTAYYANI (7-9)

Lovely red to right centre from Mertens to gain access to the table. Looks like he is suddenly finding his scoring boots in this match after a slow start.

MERTENS 2-0 ALOTAYYANI (0-9)

The winner of this contest will take on China’s Long Zehuang in the second round on Saturday night.

LATEST SCORES

Allan Taylor 4-2 Adeel AqdusBaipat Siripaporn 3-2 Mohamed ElkhayatMichael Holt 4-0 Ahmad AbdulOliver Lines 4-0 Faisal BahashwanRobbie McGuigan 2-3 Abdulraouf SaighRory Thor 4-0 Omar AlajlaniChris Totten 2-2 Haris TahirReanne Evans 0-4 Simon BlackwellBen Mertens 2-0 Abdullah AlotayyaniMERTENS 1-0 ALOTAYYANI (89-1)

Chance to make his first century of the season as the 19-year-old’s break reaches 72. No century, but a superb break of 79 and it is a 2-0 lead for the talented Belgian player.

MERTENS 1-0 ALOTAYYANI (65-1)

Down to the final five reds, and this looks very much more like it from Mertens, who is gaining some much-needed table time.

MERTENS 1-0 ALOTAYYANI (34-1)

Chance then for Mertens to put some clear water between himself and Alotayyani in this second frame. Getting the cue action working nicely.

LATEST SCORES

All very unconvincing level of play from both men on the main table. So many balls being missed in this second frame. A real struggle, to say the least.

MERTENS 0-0 ALOTAYYANI (49-11)

Not a classic piece of cue combat, but Mertens sees it out on the colours to lead 1-0. Both players looking a touch nervy, but the Belgian steels himself to get himself over the line.

LATEST SCORES

Allan Taylor 2-2 Adeel AqdusBaipat Siripaporn 3-1 Mohamed ElkhayatMichael Holt 4-0 Ahmad AbdulOliver Lines 4-0 Faisal BahashwanRobbie McGuigan 2-2 Abdulraouf SaighRory Thor 4-0 Omar AlajlaniChris Totten 1-2 Haris TahirReanne Evans 0-4 Simon BlackwellMERTENS 0-0 ALOTAYYANI (29-10)

A very scrappy opening frame, but Mertens doing enough to keep his nose in front. Three reds left on table.

MERTENS 0-0 ALOTAYYANI (5-0)

World No. 92 Mertens very much the favourite to progress in this match. Abdullah with a career highest break of 135. So can play the game. Meanwhile, Michael Holt has completed a 4-0 win over Kuwait’s Ahmad Abul. Holt with breaks of 78 and 68.

MERTENS 0-0 ALOTAYYANI (0-0)

Abdullah Alotayyani the next Saudi Arabia player to get moving on the opening day. Can he trouble the Belgian talent of Ben Mertens?

LINES 3-0 BAHASHWAN (63-9)

And that is the victory on the main TV table for Oliver Lines, who is through to the second round with a 4-0 win. Next up is Ben Woollaston in the second round on Saturday afternoon. Lines restricted his opponent to only 37 points in four frames. “It was nice to play first on the main TV table, but I struggled. The table was really reactive,” says Lines. “I’ve obviously got things to work on. Best of seven helps everybody. It is a bit of a leveller. There is an opportunity for everyone to earn a lot of money.”

LINES 3-0 BAHASHWAN (54-9)

Well, this result looks like it is heading one way, and Faisal just not providing the scoring power to trouble Lines. On the cusp of a 4-0 victory despite playing well below his best.

LINES 3-0 BAHASHWAN (15-9)

Faisal goes for a black at pace along the top cush. Rattles the jaws with black as he lands on the next red. And that is bad news as Lines returns to the table attempting to put this match to bed here and now. But he misses the black in trying to open up the reds. So still work to do.

LINES 3-0 BAHASHWAN (0-8)

Early chance for Faisal to get motoring. Lines can’t sink red to left centre, but isn’t punished as his opponent only runs in eight by missing blue to green pocket. And he looks to the sky in frustration. Can be a frustrating game.

LINES 2-0 BAHASHWAN (89-21)

Not overly convincing from Oliver, but Faisal more or less hands over the third frame on a plate as he goes for a long red, misses a long red only for the white to race down a pocket. Remaining two reds left at top end of table, and Lines clears to the pink to move 3-0 ahead. One more frame required.

LINES 2-0 BAHASHWAN (48-10)

Faisal struggling to build any momentum. We’ve all been there as a tough black fails to drop. Tough old learning school this one as the Saudi potter misses a tricky red to right centre seconds later. Chance for Lines to move 3-0 clear.

LINES 2-0 BAHASHWAN (34-9)

Would be fair to describe this match as error-strewn as Bahashwan again comes up short with a miscue halting his progress on nine. Lines back at the table, and apparently back in business. Break quickly moves to 29 with more to come.

LINES 1-0 BAHASHWAN (58-2)

Two snookers required and the frame ends with a concession as the 28-year-old local lad from Riyadh fails to drop in a pink. All going the way of Lines out there. Reading between the lines, looks destined for the second round and a possible meeting with Ben Woollaston on Saturday afternoon.

LINES 1-0 BAHASHWAN (50-1)

Well, Lines not being punished here as a missed blue to the green pocket sees Bahashwan respond with a solitary red and a missed black. That won’t do his confidence any good. Another opportunity for Lines to move two clear.

LINES 1-0 BAHASHWAN (15-0)

Lines being handed plenty of scope to score among the balls, and isn’t shy about picking up on his opponent’s obvious technical weaknesses in failing to get through the stroke properly. Chance to crack on again in the second frame at close range.

‘A LIFE-CHANGING WEEK IN SAUDI ARABIA’

The World Snooker circuit will return to the Middle East for a ranking event for the first time since November 2008 when the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters begins on Friday. Neil Robertson was successful in claiming victory at the Bahrain Championship 16 years ago, and will chase further riches in Riyadh with a record £500,000 on the table for the first winner of the tour’s new major competition. Read more here

LINES 0-0 BAHASHWAN (110-5)

A break of 82 from Lines is just what the doctor ordered. Ideal way to settle any early nerves out there. He moves 1-0 up in the race to four, best of seven frames.

LINES 0-0 BAHASHWAN (63-5)

The local lad fluffed his lines, and looks for all the world like Oliver is going to move 1-0 ahead. Looking very comfortable after a couple of false starts. Getting used to the pace of the table and the conditions in Riyadh.

FULL DRAW DETAILS ARE HERE

The best snooker players in the world are back in Riyadh for the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. The likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, world No. 1 Judd Trump, world champion Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen will be in action competing for a share of the £2.3 million prize pot. The tournament begins on August 30 live on discovery+ and you can follow all the latest scores and results here.

LINES 0-0 BAHASHWAN (28-5)

A very nervy start to this match. Lines presented with a couple of decent scoring opportunities, but breaking down among the balls and Bahashwan gets in with a fine long red, but is then miles away with another long red attempt seconds later.

HENDON: THIS IS SECOND ONLY TO CRUCIBLE

Eurosport commentator Dave Hendon will be calling the shots at a brand new tournament this week, the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. It has already been labelled the ‘fourth major’ of the sport, but in his latest column, Hendon argues it will very quickly shoot up to second spot behind the World Championship. The action will be live on Eurosport and discovery+. Read more here

LINES 0-0 BAHASHWAN (22-0)

Great long red by Lines straight off the bat, but he only reaches 22 before he misses a red with a rest. Well off the potting angle on that one.

WELCOME TO THE SAUDI ARABIA MASTERS

Should be quite a fascinating nine days in Riyadh. And it all begins today in the chase for the £500,000 first prize, the same amount Kyren Wilson carried off for claiming the world title in May. This event not lacking prestige or prize money with a huge £2.3m on the table in Saudi Arabia. Without further ado, let’s get the boys on the baize. 144 players all in the Middle East dreaming of golden finale. First up is Oliver Lines against local hope Faisal Bahashwan. First to four frames will advance to the second round.

The biggest names in the snooker are back in Riyadh for the first edition of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.

The inaugural tournament will take place from Thursday, August 30 to Saturday, September 7, 2024 and will be held in Green Halls in Riyadh.

Stream the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters 2024 and other top snooker action live on discovery+