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
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.
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.
“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.”