Snooker legends need oxygen tanks for far-flung New Year exhibition

Some of snooker’s biggest names are spending New Year at altitude, needing oxygen tanks for an exhibition in Tibet.

Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Xiao Guodong and Wu Yize are playing at the Lhasa Winter Plateau Snooker Challenge on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The five players, who have all lifted trophies this season already and will be playing at the Masters in January, are involved alongside local players who have won a tournament for the chance to face some of the world’s best.

The professionals are facing more than just a test on the table, though, with conditions very difficult for those not used to them.

Lhasa is 3,650 metres above sea level, with oxygen in short supply and the visitors to Tibet need to be hooked up to tanks even in their hotel rooms.

This is not the first time the high profile exhibition has been held in Tibet, with Williams playing in it last year and warning Robertson of what to expect.

The Australian did not fully take on board the advice, though, posting a video of him hooked up to an oxygen tank, saying: ‘When you said you had to just walk around the hotel room with this frigging oxygen tank. I thought you were absolutely taking the mick! Wow! This is unreal.’

The immense altitude may be tough to get used to but it appears to have been worth the effort given the spectacular scenery the snooker stars have enjoyed.

‘What an absolute privilege and something that my spot has given me I’ll never take for granted the journeys it takes me on,’ wrote Robertson on X.

‘Incredible views here in Tibet❤️’

Weng Xiaolei, secretary-general of the Xizang Billiards & Snooker Association, said the exhibitions in Lhasa, which have also attracted Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump in the past, are a ‘huge boost’ for local players.

‘These visits are a huge boost,” Weng told China Daily. ‘They raise awareness, inspire young players and allow local athletes to learn by watching the very best.’

The five professionals involved will hope it is good practice ahead of the Masters which starts on January 11 at Alexandra Palace.

Before that there is Championship League Invitational action, with Xiao playing in Group 3 on January 6-7 and both Robertson and Wilson joining the event for Group 4 on 8-9.

Then comes the huge event in north London where, in round one, Wu faces defending champion Shaun Murphy, Xiao meets Mark Selby, Williams plays Mark Allen, Wilson takes on Si Jiahui and Robertson will battle it out with Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Rocket had suggested earlier in the season that he would be unlikely to play at the Masters but it now seems likely he will, as stated by Stephen Hendry.

O’Sullivan’s fellow seven-time world champion said on his YouTube channel: ‘Well he is playing. He requested to play late, I think, so he’s playing Neil on Wednesday night. So yeah, Ronnie is playing in the Masters.’

MORE: The 20 snooker players of 2025 including Ronnie O’Sullivan and future superstar

MORE: World Grand Prix draw throws big names together in Hong Kong

MORE: Chris Wakelin defies hospital scare, illness and odds to land Scottish Open title