Disciplinary threat against quintet abates as Macau exhibition dates change

Belgian Luca Brecel won the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in May

The exhibition event in Macau featuring five top players which was set to clash with this month's Northern Ireland Open has been moved to December.

World champion Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Ali Carter faced disciplinary action for playing in Macau.

But the exhibition event will instead take place from 22-24 December, with permission from the World Snooker Tour.

The five players remain absentees from the Northern Ireland Open.

"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," said a World Snooker Tour statement.

"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."

World number two Brecel, Selby, Higgins and Carter all in the game's elite top 16 with Thai player Un-Nooh ranked 37th.

Players do not have to enter all WST events, but are contractually obliged to avoid doing 'anything that is detrimental to the WST', such as instead taking part in any non-sanctioned event run at the same time.

WST honorary president Barry Hearn had accused the players involved of "selling their souls and themselves down the river for an extra few quid".

Home player Mark Allen will aim for a third successive Northern Ireland Open title when the event starts in Belfast on 22 October.