'Agreeable solution reached' as Macau exhibition event coinciding with Northern Ireland Open postponed until December
Published 13/10/2023 at 19:07 GMT+1
World Snooker Tour has confirmed that an exhibition event in Macau, which was due to clash with the Northern Ireland Open, has been postponed until December 22-24 with "players having received WST permission to enter". Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Ali Carter had all entered the event but will still miss the Home Nations tournament in Belfast.
Lucas Brecel
Image credit: Getty Images
An exhibition event in Macau, which was originally scheduled to coincide with the Northern Ireland Open, has been postponed until December, the World Snooker Tour has confirmed.
WST honorary president Barry Hearn had warned that any player missing the Home Nations tournament later this month to play in China would receive a stern punishment for a breach of contract.
In a statement earlier this week, the WST confirmed that five players had said it was their intention to miss the Northern Ireland Open and to instead play in an exhibition event in Macau.
The players named were current world champion Luca Brecel, multiple world champions Mark Selby and John Higgins, plus Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Ali Carter. The statement said these five players had withdrawn their entry.
On Friday, the WST released another statement, confirming the event in Macau has now been scheduled for December with "players having received WST permission to enter".
However, the players who have withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open will not take part in the tournament in Belfast.
The WST statement in full
WST can confirm that the Macau event previously scheduled for 27-29 October will now take place on the 22-24 December with players having received WST permission to enter.
As has been the case throughout, and contrary to reports, WST has dealt with all parties in a respectful and productive manner to reach an outcome which is satisfactory to all parties.
As previously stated, due to contractual obligations, the original dates promoted would have been unacceptable and potentially lead to disciplinary action for those players choosing to compete in this event rather than the Northern Ireland Open. As such we are pleased a mutually agreeable solution has been reached to avoid further action.
WST will always work with players to satisfy their needs and we give permission on multiple occasions during the season for these types of events, but on this occasion, we could not do so and raised our concerns with the players and promoter in an appropriate manner which has now led to the postponement.
The players who have withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open will remain unentered for this event.
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