Ronnie O’Sullivan had a missed opportunity to pocket the unique golden ball during a practice session prior to the commencement of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. As he gears up for the tournament, ‘The Rocket’ aims to secure the title for the second time without repeating the error.
The championship has introduced a special golden ball, adding 20 extra points, which remains on the table as long as a player is on track for a maximum 147 break. Achieving a 147 break gives players the chance to pot the valuable golden ball for a groundbreaking 167 break.
The stakes are high, with the player who achieves this feat set to earn a substantial £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, surpassing the £250,000 prize for the tournament winner. However, O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the difficulty in potting the golden ball.
In a video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media, nine out of the 12 competitors in the tournament were shown potting a black before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to try but his shot rebounded off the cushion.
Fortunately, O’Sullivan wasn’t alone in missing the shot. Other players like Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui will be hoping for better luck if they get the opportunity during their matches.
On the other hand, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins will be eager for their practice sessions to pay off after successfully potting the golden ball. Kyren Wilson even showcased his confidence with a no-look pot.
O’Sullivan will start his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Masters champion Murphy or Saudi teenager Ziyad Alqabbani in the initial round. The 49-year-old emerged victorious in the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. While O’Sullivan aims for another title in Riyadh, he expressed his desire to be the first player to achieve a 167 break.
Ahead of the competition, O’Sullivan stated, “I’d rather get the big break. I mean, I won the tournament before and it’s great to win the tournament, but to get the 167 I think that’d be amazing. An amazing achievement if anybody could do it.”
He added, “Someone said there’s been 14 147s this year. So that’s a hell of a lot. But to get that golden ball, that’s the true test.”
Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after his victory over Brecel in last December’s final. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the top 10 players in the world alongside two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
The competition spans three days, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Friday, November 21.