Barry Hawkins has criticised the choice to cancel the Saudi Arabia Masters.
Barry Hawkins is livid in regards to the cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Masters (Picture: Getty Photographs)
Barry Hawkins has hit out on the axing of the Saudi Arabia Masters. The Londoner is livid at being notified by way of a “silly” e mail {that a} 10-year deal has merely evaporated. Billed because the fourth main, the £2.3million event has been scrapped after simply two editions, dealing a big blow to the game.
Hawkins has progressed to a World Championship quarter-final towards Mark Allen, however his Crucible exploits couldn’t conceal his bitter anger on the Saudi setback, which got here to gentle within the hours earlier than he secured his final 16 victory over Mark Williams on Saturday evening.
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He stated: “What’s occurred to the 10-year contract we had? It is simply been blown out of the water. We do not get no rationalization, nothing, which could be very, very annoying.
“We simply get some silly e mail saying it has been stopped. No reason, So very disappointing, it is a huge event to lose.
“It would be fascinating to see what the rationale was behind it. I’ve heard one thing, I do not know the way true it’s, but it surely’s pathetic.
“What a disappointment, with out sounding impolite, I simply suppose one thing’s gone flawed for us to lose that event.
“Clearly we have China Open, however we lose a giant one and achieve one other one, so we’re not no additional ahead.
“So actually disenchanted as a result of that it is a huge a part of season. Like I say, we get some foolish e mail, not even an reason we misplaced it.
“It was a 10-year contract. That disappeared, so I imply, what, is it simply not value….the place’s it gone?
“In the event that they signal a contract, why has it simply disappeared like that? I do not perceive.
“Simply get an e mail immediately saying: Oh, it has been so nicely supported. And, to be sincere, there was nobody within the crowd anyway. I’ve heard the the explanation why it wasn’t promoted that nicely.
“I usually do not say a lot, however yeah, I am very sad about it, to be sincere with you.”
Hawkins revealed that gamers had been knowledgeable by way of a ‘silly’ e mail (Picture: Getty Photographs)
The cancellation of the occasion additionally means gamers, most notably winners equivalent to 2024 champion Judd Trump and final yr’s victor Neil Robertson, now haven’t any probability to defend the money within the rankings, which run on a two-year cycle.
Hawkins added: “I suppose that is one of many downsides to having a cash rating system as a result of it is so prime heavy.
“They have not received an opportunity to defend that £500,000. That is simply gonna be wiped off and there is not any event to exchange that.”
Williams was runner-up two years in the past and has put ahead a suggestion relating to the rating factors.
He stated: “Disappointing. I believe all of us thought it was on for 10 years, however for no matter motive it has been referred to as off.
“It’s a bit unfair since you’ve received Judd Trump defending £500,000, however, if the event’s not there to defend the factors, perhaps you would have a look at it and solely lose half the factors or one thing like that.
“Such as you stated, there’s £200,000 coming off me, £500,000 for Judd. We have not received a event to defend it, so it’ll be robust, particularly if you happen to’re combating for a prime 16 place or prime 32 place. Different folks down the rankings are going to endure as nicely.
“We have got loads of tournaments. It isn’t the top of the world it is off, it is simply you may’t defend your factors.
“If one thing like that occurs once more, I do not know the way they are going to do it. Possibly not lose all of your factors as a result of it isn’t the gamers’ fault they can not defend.
“However we will not moan in regards to the tournaments. We have got a great deal of them on the enjoying. Possibly one other event will change it or be put in. We will not change it, however put it in as a substitute, I do not know.”
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