World Snooker Tour responds to John Higgins after four-time world champion is asked to change in toilet at Riyadh Season Snooker Championship
By Desmond Kane
Published 27/11/2025 at 10:52 GMT
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John Higgins has followed up his criticism of table conditions at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship by revealing he was asked to change in a toilet at the elite event. World Snooker Tour has promised to address the situation after the Scot expressed he was unhappy with the backstage facilities in Saudi Arabia. "There has to be more space for the players," said the four-time world champion.
‘As if there’s beer mats under the table’ – Higgins fumes at ‘pathetic’ conditions in Riyadh
Video credit: TNT Sports
World Snooker Tour (WST) has responded to John Higgins after the four-time world champion said he was asked to change in a toilet during the £785,000 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia.
"This season, we are gathering more feedback from players, sharing that information with them and looking at ways we can improve each tournament, working with our partners," said WST in a statement.
"Given the global nature of our tour and a wide variety of venues, there are always challenges, but we will embrace these challenges as we continue to grow our sport."
Higgins had lamented table conditions on TNT Sports during his opening match against Ding Junhui last week, a contest he won 4-0, but said that was not the only issue at the 12-man invitational tournament.
The world No. 6 lost 4-2 to defending champion Mark Allen in a turgid quarter-final match that saw both men fail to find peak form with preparation clearly an issue for Higgins.
"There really needs to be things done," Higgins said on Wednesday in an interview with Sporting Life.
"I was staying an hour away, and I went over with my clothes to get ready, and I’m asking the tournament director, have you any dressing rooms?
"He said you can change in a toilet there, or you can change behind the stairs with a black curtain.
"It’s not good enough. I don’t know who is there actually fighting for the players to say: 'No, that's not good enough'."
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Higgins misses out on 167 in dramatic fashion!
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Wishaw player came closest to reaching the $1m (£750,000) Golden Ball at the three-day event last year, breaking down on the colours in the quest to produce the first 167 in history by slotting an extra ball after the final black of a 147.
"There has to be dressing rooms, there has to be more space for the players," said the Scot, who earned £50,000 for his trip to the Middle East.
"We realise it is an incredible event with a lot of money, but the backstage facilities for the players to get themselves ready and get themselves up for the event were so below par, it was unbelievable. It was poor."
WST has said it will take the issues raised by Higgins on board as the tournament organisers strive to improve backstage facilities for the professional game.
"Firstly, we are glad that John agrees that this was a fantastic event and set-up," said a WST spokesperson.
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Zhao completes victory over Robertson to claim Riyadh title
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The arena was packed from the first session, and we feel that snooker is really growing in Saudi Arabia.
"Regarding the backstage facilities, there is limited space at the venue, and given the circumstances, we provided the best possible facilities for the players, including an improved Players Lounge area."
World champion Zhao Xintong claimed the £250,000 first prize in Riyadh courtesy of a 5-2 final win over Neil Robertson.
Recent International Championship runner-up Higgins, who is set to chase a fourth UK Championship in York next week, could not disguise his discontent with the table size.
"With me and Ding, we’re only about 5ft 5in each, we really struggled with the table, there’s so many - as if it’s beer mats underneath the table and it's raised up," said Higgins, who won the World Open and Tour Championship earlier this year.
"Somebody really needs to get told. I don’t know who’s passed that. It's pathetic for a million-pound tournament. It really is mad."
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‘The drought is over’ – Higgins seals World Open title with classy century
Video credit: TNT Sports
A tournament director discussed the matter with the 33-time ranking event winner after he had aired his views.
A WST spokesperson told TNT Sports: "The table is regulation height in accordance with the WPBSA Official Rules of Snooker, measured from floor to the top of the cushion rail.
"It was, of course, checked pre-event as part of extensive quality checks. The tournament director demonstrated this fact to John after the match to prove all legs of the table were comfortably within regulation tolerance.
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"Our leading table-fitters are at this event to ensure that the playing conditions are as good as possible and they continue to do a fantastic job."
Meanwhile, the final qualifying round for the 49th UK Championship is completed on Thursday in Wigan before the main event is staged at the Barbican from November 29 to December 7, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the UK Championship, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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