Ronnie O’Sullivan had a missed opportunity to pocket the special golden ball during a practice session prior to the upcoming Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. ‘The Rocket’ is aiming to avoid a similar outcome during the tournament as he vies for his second title victory.
The tournament has introduced a unique golden ball valued at an additional 20 points, which remains on the table as long as a player has the potential to achieve a 147 break. Should a player successfully complete a maximum break, they will have the chance to pocket the valuable golden ball for a groundbreaking 167 total break.
The rewards are substantial, with the player who achieves this feat set to receive a remarkable £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, surpassing the £250,000 prize awarded to the tournament winner. Despite O’Sullivan’s practice mishap, it is evident that potting the golden ball is no easy task.
A video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media captured nine out of the 12 participating players potting a black ball before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to take his shot, but unfortunately, it rebounded off the cushion.
Fortunately, O’Sullivan was not alone in missing the mark. Other players such as Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui will also be seeking better luck if the opportunity arises in their matches.
Conversely, players like Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins are hopeful that their practice sessions will pay off after successfully potting the golden ball. Kyren Wilson even displayed his confidence with a no-look shot.
O’Sullivan is scheduled to begin his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani, the Saudi Arabian teenager, in the opening round. The 49-year-old previously 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, his ultimate aspiration is to be the first player to achieve a 167 break.
Expressing his thoughts before the competition, O’Sullivan expressed his desire for the remarkable break, stating, “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. I don’t think anyone will do it, if that’s my personal opinion. I’d be happy to be wrong.”
Defending champion Mark Allen, who secured victory in last December’s final against Brecel, is set to make a return to the competition. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the world’s top 10 players alongside two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
The competition spans over three days, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Friday, November 21.