Barry Hawkins is furious about the cancellation of the Saudi Arabia Masters (Image: Getty Images)
Barry Hawkins has hit out at the axing of the Saudi Arabia Masters. The Londoner is furious at being notified via a “stupid” email that a 10-year deal has simply evaporated. Billed as the fourth major, the £2.3million tournament has been scrapped after just two editions, dealing a significant blow to the sport.
Hawkins has progressed to a World Championship quarter-final against Mark Allen, but his Crucible exploits could not conceal his bitter anger at the Saudi setback, which came to light in the hours before he secured his last 16 victory over Mark Williams on Saturday night.
He said: “What’s happened to the 10-year contract we had? It’s just been blown out of the water. We don’t get no explanation, nothing, which is very, very annoying.
“We just get some stupid email saying it’s been stopped. No explanation why, So very disappointing, it’s a massive tournament to lose.
“It’d be interesting to see what the reason was behind it. I’ve heard something, I don’t know how true it is, but it’s pathetic.
“What a disappointment, without sounding rude, I just think something’s gone wrong for us to lose that tournament.
“Obviously we’ve got China Open, but we lose a big one and gain another one, so we’re not no further forward.
“So really disappointed because that it’s a massive part of season. Like I say, we get some silly email, not even an explanation why we lost it.
“It was a 10-year contract. That disappeared, so I mean, what, is it just not worth….where’s it gone?
“If they sign a contract, why has it just disappeared like that? I don’t understand.
“Just get an email today saying: Oh, it’s been so well supported. And, to be honest, there was no one in the crowd anyway. I’ve heard the reasons why it wasn’t promoted that well.
“I normally don’t say much, but yeah, I’m very unhappy about it, to be honest with you.”
Hawkins revealed that players were informed via a ‘stupid’ email (Image: Getty Images)
The cancellation of the event also means players, most notably winners such as 2024 champion Judd Trump and last year’s victor Neil Robertson, now have no chance to defend the cash in the rankings, which run on a two-year cycle.
Hawkins added: “I suppose that’s one of the downsides to having a money ranking system because it’s so top heavy.
“They haven’t got a chance to defend that £500,000. That’s just gonna be wiped off and there’s no tournament to replace that.”
Williams was runner-up two years ago and has put forward a suggestion regarding the ranking points.
He said: “Disappointing. I think we all thought it was on for 10 years, but for whatever reason it’s been called off.
“It is a bit unfair because you’ve got Judd Trump defending £500,000, but, if the tournament’s not there to defend the points, maybe you could look at it and only lose half the points or something like that.
“Like you said, there’s £200,000 coming off me, £500,000 for Judd. We haven’t got a tournament to defend it, so it’s going to be tough, especially if you’re fighting for a top 16 place or top 32 place. Other people down the rankings are going to suffer as well.
“We’ve got plenty of tournaments. It’s not the end of the world it’s off, it’s just you can’t defend your points.
“If something like that happens again, I don’t know how they’re going to do it. Maybe not lose all your points because it’s not the players’ fault they can’t defend.
“But we can’t moan about the tournaments. We’ve got loads of them at the playing. Maybe another tournament will replace it or be put in. We can’t replace it, but put it in instead, I don’t know.”
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