As Ronnie O’Sullivan, Marco Fu head to Macau for Christmas snooker tournament, will they ever return to Hong Kong?

The pair appear in Macau to launch its December 25-29 Masters event alongside Si Jiahui, Judd Trump and Jack Lisowski
Repeating 2022 Hong Kong Masters is ‘difficult, because of lack of long-term financial commitment from the government’, city’s snooker chairman Vincent Law says

World Snooker

Tom BellandMike Chan

Published: 6:50pm, 29 Jun 2023

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Hong Kong’s snooker boss said greater backing was needed from the government for the city to host another high-level tournament, after Macau revealed it had lured the world’s best players for an exhibition event this Christmas.

The announcement of the Wynn Presents 2023 Macau Snooker Masters, an eight-player invitational tournament, unveiled a stellar line-up including world No 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan and Hong Kong’s own Marco Fu Ka-chun.

It contrasted with the absence of a planned repeat of last October’s Hong Kong Masters, which drew similar names and a world-record crowd for the final between O’Sullivan and Fu.

But matching the festive fare planned by the city’s neighbour – which has persuaded even players with families to play on Christmas Day – is out of reach for the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council, according to its chairman Vincent Law Wing-chung.

(From second left) Si Jiahui, Judd Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jack Lisowski, Marco Fu. Photo: Macau Snooker Masters

“It’s difficult, because of a lack of long-term financial commitment from the government,” he said. “After China’s reopening, the snooker calendar is also very congested.

“I will not say Macau outbid us. I think the organisers were inspired by our event last year. They will hold it during Christmas, which is unconventional, and it’s backed by a world-class casino. I think it will be a different type of niche event.”

Last year’s Hong Kong Masters, also an exhibition event but – unlike Macau’s – part of the World Snooker Tour (WST) calendar, made use of funds allocated to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover to China.

“Commercial sponsorship will not be sufficient unless we have significant financial support from the government,” Law said. “We are a non-profit association, so we cannot afford to take commercial risks. We can apply to the government’s ‘M’ Mark fund, but that scheme does not quite work for our model.”

Macau’s event will feature China’s Si Jiahui, the 20-year-old who shot to stardom at this year’s World Championship. Si, Fu and O’Sullivan even travelled to Macau on Wednesday to appear at the launch, along with Judd Trump and Jack Lisowski. All will take to the baize on December 25 to 29 at Wynn Palace’s Grand Theatre.

Some of the players were continuing to Shanghai, where they will play exhibitions this weekend – the first appearance by leading stars in mainland China since before the pandemic.

Ding Junhui, Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson will complete the octet vying for Macau’s £150,000 (US$190,000) winner’s prize.

Fu savours greatest moment as sensational 147 wins Hong Kong Masters semi

That exceeds the HK$1 million (US$125,000) O’Sullivan won at a Hong Kong Masters he said “changed snooker” and was “probably the best tournament I’ve ever played in”, after record crowds at Hong Kong Coliseum culminated in 8,000-plus for the final.

Asked whether Hong Kong could yet host an event in the 2023-24 season, Law said: “[WST] always wants us to host a ranking event, but that is different. My best guess is it requires at least 50 per cent more money. If the prize money is not attractive, overseas players will not come.

“It is always possible to host smaller events, but we do not want to host for the sake of it. If the players are not famous, spectators won’t come, TV ratings are not good. It is the Hong Kong taxpayer suffering if money is not well spent.

“With the event lasting a week, and no star matchups guaranteed, do we still have the appetite to fill the seats? As of now, I do not see us having the appetite.”

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