Riyadh Season World Masters as it happened - John Higgins downed Mark Williams after Ali Carter defeated Ding Junhui

ByDaniel Harris

Updated 04/03/2024 at 23:39 GMT

The Riyadh Season World Masters 2024 is finally here with Eurosport providing live text coverage of the action from Saudi Arabia. The opening day saw Ali Carter and John Higgins reach the quarter-finals at the expense of Ding Junhui and Mark Williams. Stream top snooker action, including the Riyadh Season World Masters, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.

'It'll add five, six, seven good years' - O'Sullivan on why Higgins trying new things will help

Thanks for joining our coverage today. We will see you tomorrow for the four fantastic quarter finals.

Higgins: 'I was gone'

Riyadh Season World Masters

Rocket's record-breaking season: How much has O'Sullivan won in prize money?

08/03/2024 at 09:57

Speaking about his 147 opportunity, Higgins admitted to being incredibly nervous during his 120-break.

"Mark said his palms were sweating," Higgins said on Eurosport.

"In the back of my mind I knew the pink was not great.

"I was gone. I was just thinking happy thoughts.

"This would have been a little bit different."

Tomorrow's quarter-final line up:

2pm:

Luca Brecel v Ali Carter
Mark Allen v Mark Selby

7pm:

Judd Trump v Shaun Murphy
Ronnie O'Sullivan v John Higgins

Higgins 4-2 Williams

Mark Williams concedes after Higgins' break of 72 and he will now play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-final tomorrow.

Higgins 3-2 Williams (9-16)

Higgins misses a double, but gets another chance and slots in a delicate red to middle superbly.

Higgins 3-2 Williams (0-16)

Williams again it seems thinking of the 147, even after two reds, tries to play a tricky red at the bottom of the pack and now Higgins has a great chance to win the match.

Higgins 3-2 Williams (0-1)

Wonderful opening pot from Williams. On baulk, he drops the red in and sets himself up on the black.

Higgins 3-2 Williams

Higgins pots the black one-handed to put the icing on a 122-break.

Higgins 3-1 Williams (1-74)

Williams has sealed the frame now, can he make a century break?

Higgins 3-1 Williams (1-4)

Higgins goes in-off and leaves a red over the bottom left pocket.

Higgins 3-1 Williams (1-0)

Williams goes for a long red and it bounces out of the bottom right pocket, but Higgins after potting a red snookers himself from the black.

Higgins 3-1 Williams

Williams concedes after Higgins' break of 77 and the Scot is now just one frame from victory.

Higgins 2-1 Williams (33-32)

Higgins got very close to a red, but rolls it into the green-ball pocket and is now very much favourite to take the frame.

Higgins 2-1 Williams (0-32)

That golden ball is tempting players. There's no way Williams would have attempted that pot if the prize had not been available. It might cost him the frame.

Higgins 2-1 Williams (0-24)

Three reds, three blacks...

Higgins 2-1 Williams (0-1)

Double kiss from Higgins sets up Williams for chance to compile score.

Higgins 2-1 Williams

Williams leaves the green over the pocket and concedes the frame.

Higgins 1-1 Williams (63-29)

Now Higgins misses an easy pot. Williams needs snookers but will keep playing.

Higgins 1-1 Williams (55-29)

He did all the hard work Williams, got in perfect position for the last red, just off the cushion but then left it in the jaws.

Higgins 1-1 Williams (55-1)

Higgins just adds another ten before falling out of position and missing a tricky red. Williams pots a fine long red to give himself a chance.

Higgins 1-1 Williams (45-0)

Williams takes on a risky pot, and misses wildly, but is fortunate not to leave anything on, but a poor safety now has Higgins in position to win the frame.

Higgins 1-1 Williams (45-0)

Higgins loses position after potting a blue and plays safe to baulk.

Higgins 1-1 Williams (7-0)

Higgins the first player with a chance to build a score in the third frame.

Higgins 1-1 Williams

Higgins left the yellow in front of the middle pocket and then concedes the frame.

Higgins 1-0 Williams (32-64)

Williams pots a red, so Higgins needs two snookers now.

Higgins 1-0 Williams (32-63)

Higgins misses a cannon and the frame is still up for grabs. Williams just needs the red.

Higgins 1-0 Williams (8-63)

Williams misses a straight red to end the break and Higgins might be favourite to win the frame now.

Higgins 1-0 Williams (0-6)

Higgins misses a long pot and Williams now has a chance to build a break.

Higgins 1-0 Williams (0-1)

Williams pots his first ball of the match and then leaves a tricky snooker behind the yellow.

The dramatic moment from the first frame...

Higgins misses out on 167 in dramatic fashion!

Higgins 1-0 Williams

The players agree to a re-rack, after both nudge the white against the pack a couple of times.

Higgins 1-0 Williams

So unlucky to not get position on the yellow after potting the difficult black. Unbelievably people started walking through the arena when he was about to pot the black. 120 not to be sniffed at, but oh what could've been.

Higgins 0-0 Williams (113-0)

He rolled behind the last red and potted it Difficult black now.

Higgins 0-0 Williams (104-0)

13 reds, 13 blacks...He will need to double the last red.

Higgins 0-0 Williams (80-0)

11 reds, 11 blacks...he has left one red on the cushion but we can still hope.

Higgins 0-0 Williams (64-0)

Eight reds, eight blacks...still in position!!!

Higgins 0-0 Williams (48-0)

Six reds, six blacks...when can we get excited?

Higgins 0-0 Williams (32-0)

Four reds, four blacks...Could we be on for a 167!

Higgins 0-0 Williams (16-0)

Higgins slots in a long red and now has a chance to build a big break.

Higgins 0-0 Williams

Williams gets the game underway.

Class of 92 clash up next

John Higgins and Mark Williams meet for a chance to reach the last eight and a match against the other member of that year's terrific troika, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

When Carter got lucky...

'What a thing to happen' - Ding fires cue ball into pocket after fantastic reverse double!

Carter: I missed a ball at 3-1 and didn't see another ball for two frames

"In the end it was the only way I was going to win it by Ding losing it," Carter said on Eurosport.

"We come again tomorrow...I'm still punching."

Carter now plays Luca Brecel tomorrow.

Carter 4-3 Ding

Carter gets over the line. He is very relieved. Ding left the brown in and easy position and he puts it away.

Carter 3-3 Ding (67-37)

Carter pots the green but misses the brown. Now Ding needs two snookers to tie.

Carter 3-3 Ding (64-37)

A fantastic reverse double from Ding but the ball travels a few inches too far to leave the green on easily. But he pots the green, but then ricochets the blue and goes in-off!

Carter 3-3 Ding (60-35)

Ding tried to get the brown off the cushion, which he did, but is now not on the yellow. What a fantastic last frame.

Carter 3-3 Ding (60-28)

Ding gets two reds and blacks, then a snooker - and a free ball, which he pots with a black. Life left in this again.

Carter 3-3 Ding (60-0)

Carter gets a bit of luck ricocheting off the middle pocket jaw after a long pot to leave Ding leaving snookers, but as he misses the next red, Ding will keep playing.

Carter 3-3 Ding (53-0)

A fine red into the baulk pocket but with no colour available, he leaves the brown safe on the side cushion.

Carter 3-3 Ding (52-0)

Carter fails to get position and then, even worse, fails to lay an easy snooker behind the yellow. 75 points still on the table.

Carter 3-3 Ding (23-0)

Carter with another chance after Ding missed a red into the bottom red pocket by a long way.

Carter 3-3 Ding (23-0)

Carter with another chance after Ding missed a red into the bottom red pocket by a long way.

Carter 3-3 Ding (22-0)

The break ends at 22, as Carter didn't have an angle to break up the pack.

Carter 3-3 Ding (3-0)

A nice red from a shot to nothing and Carter plays a yellow into the right middle to start a potential match-winning break.

Watch Ding's 138-break from the opening frame.

Ding with a 138 clearance in the opening frame against Carter

Carter 3-3 Ding

Carter turns down the first opportunity at a long pot, opting for safety. It could be a cagey decider.

Carter 3-3 Ding

After an opening frame 138, he records a 120-break too.

Carter 3-2 Ding (0-110)

Ding has a century break now. That is three fantastic breaks he has made now - and his second century.

Carter 3-2 Ding (0-25)

Carter misses a long pot and Ding is now amongst the balls again.

Carter 3-2 Ding (0-8)

The break ends as he can't open up the pack sufficiently to set up a red to pot off the yelow.

Carter 3-2 Ding (0-5)

Ding with a cut into the middle after Carter's break this time and he has a chance to build a big score.

Carter 3-2 Ding

A fine break of 74 halves the deficit for Ding.

Carter 3-1 Ding (37-0)

Carter is back with another chance and you don't feel he will let this one slip....but he does, leaving a black in the jaws. And this time he has left the table perfectly for Ding.

Carter 3-1 Ding (28-0)

Carter loses position and leaves the ball back in baulk.

Carter 3-1 Ding (6-0)

Ding leaves an easy red to cut into the left middle and Carter has an opportunity to finish things up.

Carter 3-1 Ding

The break ends at 47 but more than enough to take the frame.

Carter 2-1 Ding (83-0)

Carter is over the line in this frame - and just a frame away from reaching the last eight.

Carter 2-1 Ding (44-0)

He thought he'd missed a red but it seems a generous bottom right pocket kept the break going, but ultimately just for one black as he failed to open up the reds sufficiently.

Carter 2-1 Ding (8-0)

Carter with a fine long red to begin a break.

Carter 2-1 Ding

Carter owns up to a foul touching the brown ball with his finger as he potted a red with a rest, ending the break six short of a century.

Carter 1-1 Ding (72-0)

Carter clinches the frame but has a century in his sights.

Carter 1-1 Ding (1-0)

Carter is the first to get his hand on the table in this frame.

Carter 1-1 Ding

A break of 31 is enough to pull Carter level.

Carter 0-1 Ding (39-30)

Ding misses an easy red with the rest and now Carter is likely to clear up.

Carter 0-1 Ding (38-1)

Ding now at the table with a chance to catch Carter's total up at least.

Carter 0-1 Ding (37-0)

Carter falls out of position and leaves a safety near the baulk cushion.

Carter 0-1 Ding (6-0)

Ding misses a difficult long red after Carter's break off shot and now the Englishman has the chance to build a break.

Carter 0-1 Ding

Ding takes the frame with a total clearance of 138. A shame such a sparse crowd in the venue to watch this greatness.

Carter 0-0 Ding (0-80)

Ding has won the frame at this visit. Not a golden-ball break but a magnificent century looks on.

Carter 0-0 Ding (0-6)

Carter with a double kiss on a red he was attempting to play a safety off and Ding is amongst the balls.

Carter 0-0 Ding

Ding gets the match underway. It is the best of seven.

The introductions are underway...

Ding Junhai is first into the arena.

Our coverage is underway - Live on Eurosport 1

Ken Doherty and Jack Lisowski - in traditional Saudi dress - are in the studio.

Ding and Higgins given tune up before tonight's games.

They both won 4-0 against Omar Alajlani and Ali Alobaidli respectively. Will this table time prove crucial when they take on their opponents, coming fresh to the table tonight.

Welcome to the evening session!

Tonight we will see Ali Carter face Ding Junhui, followed by Mark Williams against John Higgins, as these four big names battle for a place in the World Masters of Snooker quarter-final.

That's us done for the afternoon

Join us again at 6.30pm GMT for the evening dig.

John Higgins beats Ali Alobaidli 4-0!

He meets Mark J Williams later tonight.

Higgins 3-0 Alobaidli (80-0)

Ali's going to enjoy his day playing one of the greats. John misses with the rest - no ton then - so he gets going, with no chance of winning the frame, and as I type he misses a red.

Higgins 3-0 Alobaidli (65-0)

Ali had his chance - he will feel he should've taken the second frame - but instead John, who's improved through the match, is looking to end with a second straight ton and one to take him nearer that 1000 career-mark.

Higgins 3-0 Alobaidli (36-0)

John wants this sorted and if, once he's finished picking off loose balls, his split works out, it will be.

Higgins 3-0 Alobaidli (14-0)

Ali misses a cut to right corner and John knucks it home, then gets to work. It's not curtains yet, but there's a decent loud on the table - at least.

Higgins 3-0 Alobaidli (0-0)

A slow srart to the frame, reds mainly still clustered.

Higgins 3-0 Alobaidli (117-9)

That is much better from John, who posts a speedy break of 117 to take another step closer to a second round tie against Mark Williams later on. And he edges closer to that 1000th century!

Higgins 2-0 Alobaidli (0-9)

John misses a long red, which he hit well but it didn’t want to drop. Ali steps in, sinks a brilliant red and then the black, but misses a blue to the centre pocket. A great chance for Ali to build something goes begging.

Higgins 2-0 Alobaidli

John gets the job done and he's halfway to a spot in the next round.

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (53-52)

Ali hits well but leaves red over left-middle, and that'll surely be the frame.

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (53-52)

Now then. Ali sinks the penultimate red and sticks John behind the pink; he misses twice, then hits a snooker of his own, yellow blocking the route to the object-ball across the table.

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (53-44)

Oh, Ali. He can't sink pink into right-centre, and that shoiuld be the frame, except John misses his starter with the rest - by a way. A second reprieve for Ali.

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (53-44)

What do you think? He calmly and carefully forges in front, and if he bin the red that's on black cush, the frame should be his. He plays for it as his penultimate because he's got an angle to drop in behind ... but undercuts his cut-back! Massive and iunexpected chance for Ali!

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (0-43)

Or not. He misses to left corner, and we've all seen this a millon times before, so kind of expect John to punish. But can he?

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (0-36)

Ali's taking these nicely and, with balls still loose, there's a chance to build a commanding lead.

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli (0-14)

As Jack Lisowski said, Ali is a better player than Omar and he sinks a nice starter to left corner, gets an excellent white, and quickly crafts a chance to score.

Higgins 1-0 Alobaidli

It takes a while, but we get there.

Higgins 0-0 Alobaidli (62-9)

John, like Ding, is a late call-up but he's been playing fairly well recently and when he gets in again, he near enough secures the frame. Ali needs three snookers; good luck with that, old mate.

Higgins 0-0 Alobaidli (50-9)

John misses a cut-back black to right corner, returning to his seat with a more than handy lead, then a dreadful shot from Ali leaves a simple starter. And though he drains ti only to find no position, this frame looks to be on borrowed time.

Higgins 0-0 Alobaidli (28-9)

John escapes then, a fair while later, gets away having won the safety exchange, and with six reds on cushions and another close by, this is either a difficult situation or a lead that's more important than it looks. We shall see...

Higgins 0-0 Alobaidli (0-9)

A tactical start then John misses a plant before overcutting by a way; Ali sees away the starter he's left, but the table is uninviting with reds on rails, so it's soon in behind the brown.

We go again...

Coming up next

John Higgins v Ali Alobaidli

Ding Junhui beats Omar Alajlani 4-0!

Easy enough for Ding, and he meets Ali Carter next.

Ding 3-0 Alajlani (62-24)

Oh dear. Ding leaves himself a double to middle, misses by miles ... only to treble it inot the yellow bag! That is match-ball, and barring snookers, he's through.

Ding 3-0 Alajlani (29-24)

Omar runs out of position, whiote stuck to reds, but soon gets in again, then again sticks white to reds. So he plays safe, frame getting messy ... then Ding rolls a fine long opener into the green bag, and might he be able to do just enough to close this out?

Ding 3-0 Alajlani (23-8)

Ding overcuts to the corner; chance for Omar.

Ding 3-0 Alajlani (17-0)

It's Ding in again and this looks a lot like curtains. There are loose reds and others still in the cluster that, addressed from the correct angle, will pot.

Ding 3-0 Alajlani

A run of 66 and Ding is one away.

Ding 2-0 Alajlani (75-14)

Omar's shown signs of talent, but he's playing one of the best 25 players we've ever seen, so.

Ding 2-0 Alajlani (40-14)

Yup, Ding soon runs out of position and plays safe, then Omar flukes one ... and misses one. Chance for Ding to go three in front, the tale still not easy but with enough joy for him to do the necessary.

Ding 2-0 Alajlani (22-9)

Oh that's lovely, Ding sliding a starter to right-centre and quickly gets involved, but the reds aren't easy, close the black and top rail, so though there are points out there, they're not easily acquired and making something telling at this visit would be a significant effort.

Ding 2-0 Alajlani (0-9)

A cut even thinner than the one in frame one sees Omar away and on nowt, he tucks in behind the green; Ding misses twice then hits.

Ding 2-0 Alajlani

Omar is in trouble.

Ding 1-0 Alajlani (77-3)

You see this a fair bit when a top player plays another: another does well at some stuff, but can'rt play well enough for long enough to bother the scoreboard. that's what's happening here.

Ding 1-0 Alajlani (41-3)

Because Omar can get away using a different red, the one over the bag remains as insurance ... but when he needs it he can't get to it, trying to cut one towards it, missing by oceans, and leaving Ding a chance to secure the frame.

Ding 1-0 Alajlani (32-0)

It's Ding in again, a nice red facilitating a jittery black. And what's this?! He's potted three more, all wirth blacks, and this is our first assault on the golden ball. Often, players prioritise the frame, but with this amount of money at stake I'm sure he'll go for it ... but as I type he leaves a gentle red in the jaws of left corner! Chance for Omar! Can he hold it down?

Ding 1-0 Alajlani

It looked like Ding would run away with that, but Ali can play - had he found a decent safety he might've nicked it. But he didn't and he didn't, so here we are.

Ding 0-0 Alajlani (61-40)

So Ding has a go at a long one to the green bag and cues right across it, missing the pocket by miles. No matter: he sson gets away with a beauty and quickly secures the frame.

Ding 0-0 Alajlani (47-40)

Omar removes easy balls then jabs a terrific red along black cush. The last one, though, is on the side but first he needs to chip in one on the side and close to right corner. He does so well, but runs out of position and plays safe ... not very well.

Ding 0-0 Alajlani (47-2)

A blue into the middle and a nudge of the cluster ... releases not that much. So it's a safety ... which yields a chance for Ali!

Ding 0-0 Alajlani (22-2)

It's Ding in now and when he wobbles a black into right corner, the frame opens out for him. There aren't many better in the balls, and this is a frame-winning opportunity.

Ding 0-0 Alajlani (0-1)

The table is made of light brown wood - it looks like the one on which Kirk Stevens made that first Crucible 147. Anyroad, Ali snicks in a tight red, takes on and misses the yellow ... so the golden ball is removed.

And away we go!

Er ... Saudi anthem time?

Because of course.

In fact not

Tahir introduces all the competitors, but we should have snook shortly.

Our boyz baize

The arena is almost empty

Perhaps it'll fill up.

Jack Lisowski

Is dressed in local regalia. He thinks Ali has a chance of beating John, but that Omar is struggling.

For you today we have

2pm

Ding Junhui v Omar Alajlani

4pm

John Higgins v Ali Alobaidli

Hello there

And welcome to the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters.

Huge record-breaking prize on table for a golden 147 'maximum break' in Saudi Arabia

Any player making the first golden '167 maximum break' in snooker history will be rewarded with a huge £395,000 cheque at the Riyadh Season World Masters.

World Snooker Tour have explained the rules governing the addition of a 23rd ball – titled as the Riyadh Season ball – to a frame at the inaugural invitational event in Saudi Arabia involving the world's top eight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

At the start of each frame, the Golden Ball will be placed on the table, in the centre of the baulk cushion.
If a 147 is possible in the frame, the Golden Ball will remain on the table. If a player completes a 147 maximum, he will then have the chance to pot the Golden Ball to complete the 167.
Once a 147 is no longer possible, the Golden Ball will be removed from the table, until the start of the next frame.
Any foul or infringement involving the Golden Ball incurs a penalty of 4 points or the value of the ball ‘on’, whichever is greater.

The vast six-figure sum for achieving the 167 break is put into perspective when you consider the first prize for winning the World Championship is £500,000.