The sound of the cue and the rolling balls are enough to send shivers up the spine of any snooker enthusiast. When the Saudi Arabia Masters knocked on the door with a PS500,000 prize, it changed the game from a classic into a controversy. Can a tournament get into the top leagues by just flashing money? Or is it more than just money that you need to earn a place at the snooker top table?

Imagine the scene: Two titans of baize locked in a final frame decider with the crowd on their toes and the entire world watching. The tension is palpable, and the atmosphere is electric. Imagine the same scenario at the Saudi Arabia Masters where Judd Trump made a miraculous comeback to beat Mark Williams. The win was dramatic but the buzz was not as high.

Why? The Masters, the UK Championship, and the World Championship–snooker’s Triple Crown–have a legacy that money can’t buy. They are steeped in tradition, played at iconic venues, and enjoy a fan base that is more than just financial. Saudi Arabia Masters is awash with cash but still struggling to establish itself in the legacy stakes.

What does it take to become a major? It’s more than just the prize money. Although a PS500,000 check doesn’t hurt. It’s all about the tradition, prestige, and pull that a tournament holds on the hearts of players and fans alike. It’s the stories that are shared long after the last ball has been thrown.

Enter the Saudi Arabia Masters. This tournament is trying to force its way into the top league by using money as its weapon. But is it enough? The lack of excitement around the event, the quiet social media roar and the relatively low-key reaction from the public suggest that becoming a snooker master is more than just a fat paycheck.

Let’s take a look at the numbers. The World Championship offers PS500,000 as its winner. This is the same amount as the Saudi Arabia Masters. The journey to the title is about more than money – it’s a test of mental fortitude and skill. The UK Championships and Masters, with their top prizes of PS250,000, may not match payouts, but they offer another kind of reward: being a major winner.

Where does that leave us then? The Saudi Arabia Masters may be a newcomer, but it will take more than money for them to become a snooker elite. It will take time, tradition and a connection to the fans that goes above and beyond the bank account.

It’s not how much gold you own that matters; it’s how much heart you put in the game. Saudi Arabia Masters has the cash but it will need more to be considered a Major. It will need the passion, drama, and history that makes snooker such a beloved sport.

“”In snooker as in life, the legacy you leave behind is what makes the man, or the major, not the money. “

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