Ronnie O’Sullivan is one of eight professional snooker stars understood to have agreed to play in a series of new events in 2025. Four two-day events have reportedly been arranged for next year, under the banner of the Snooker 900 Grand Slam.
‘The Rocket’ is set to be the star attraction in the superstar line-up, that includes fellow veterans John Higgins and Mark Williams.
Former world champions Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, Luca Brecel and Shaun Murphy are also set to be invovled, alongside female icon Reanne Evans.
According to the Metro, the players have agreed to the new venture, but talks between the independent promoters and the World Snooker Tour (WST) are currently taking place. As it stands, those involved would need permission from WST bosses to take part in non-sanctioned TV events.
And there are said to be date clashes with WST tournaments that could cause potential problems. Players have reportedly been permitted to play in two of the four new events, but the other two crossover with the schedule of the tour.
Channel 4 have reportedly been lined up as the broadcaster for the series, with the first of the events planned for April 12-13 in London. That comes during the World Championship qualifying, and just weeks before the sport’s most prestigious event gets underway.
The final event is said to be planned for around June and July. Promoter Jason Francis is behind the new venture, with Murphy thus far the only high-profile player to publicly address his invitation.
“It is true. I’m delighted to be asked, but I don’t know very much about it,” he said on his onefourseven podcast. “I know that Jason was planning to put on four two-day events. I had no idea until I saw the list on social media myself who else was asked to play in it.
“Just happy to play and looking forward to these opportunities. As luck would have it, two of those dates do clash with potential events in the 25/26 calendar, so I think only two of them so far have been granted permission.”
The financial opportunities available to the game’s best players have increased immensely in the last 12 month – with the emergence of new WST events in the Middle East, with this year’s Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters boasting a prize pot of £2.3 million.
O’Sullivan has been one player to be vocal about his preference for paying for big sums abroad. He’s even called for the World Championships to be moved from it’s current base at the Crucible to China or Saudi.