Snooker Stars and Sporting Events Disrupted by Conflict in the Middle East
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is impacting sporting figures and events, with snooker players and other athletes caught in the crossfire. Several players based in the region, and events scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran, have been directly affected by recent escalations.
Snooker Players Affected by the Conflict
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and world number one Judd Trump both reside in Dubai, but were not in the region at the time of the recent attacks. Ronnie O’Sullivan announced plans to move to the Middle East in May 2025, though he was reportedly out of the region during the recent conflict. Trump was posting on social media from Hong Kong, where his girlfriend lives.
World number 38 Matt Selt is also based in Dubai. The WPBSA Players, the players association linked to the governing body, is in contact with him and offering assistance to help him and his family leave the country. A statement from WPBSA Players read, “WPBSA Players prioritises the welfare of its players and has been in communication with those who are potentially affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In respect of Matthew Selt’s situation, WPBSA Players has been in regular communication with him. Matthew has been offered assistance to ensure that he and his family are able to leave the region at the earliest opportunity.”
The WPBSA Players is also in contact with players from the Middle East, including UAE’s Mohammed Shehab and Iran’s Hossein Vafaei and Amir Sarkhosh.
Recent Events and Attacks
On Saturday, the USA and Israel launched a ‘major military operation’ against Iran, reportedly killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries, including the UAE.
On Sunday morning, the Burj Al Arab, a landmark hotel in Dubai, was reportedly hit by an Iranian drone, causing a small fire. According to a statement from Dubai’s Media Office, the drone was intercepted, and the resulting fragments caused a fire on the hotel’s exterior facade. Civil defense teams quickly contained the incident without any injuries.
Four people were injured in a missile strike at Dubai International Airport, which Dubai’s Media Office described as “an incident, which was quickly contained.” Flights out of the UAE have been cancelled, leaving British nationals stranded and seeking repatriation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that two government-organised flights would bring people back from the Middle East, with eight commercial flights scheduled to depart from the UAE on Wednesday.
Impact on Other Sports
The conflict has also affected tennis, with the Dubai Championships recently concluded and an ATP Challenger event in Fujairah, UAE, scheduled but subsequently cancelled. British tennis player Jack Draper narrowly avoided the conflict area, stating, “I was in Dubai last week. I managed to secure away almost probably one of the last flights out.”
The ATP has confirmed it is assisting players in leaving the UAE after the Fujairah event was cancelled. The ATP stated, “Following the cancellation of the ATP Challenger Tour events in Fujairah, the ATP has been working closely with tournament organisers to support players on site. Accommodation and essential needs continue to be covered by the tournament, and a charter flight has been arranged and fully funded by the ATP to assist with departures from the region at no cost to players. Separately, the vast majority of players who were in Dubai have successfully departed today on selected flights. The safety and wellbeing of our players, support teams and staff members remains our highest priority, and we continue to remain in close contact with those affected.”