Ronnie O’Sullivan had a missed opportunity to pocket the special golden ball during a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. ‘The Rocket’ is aiming to not repeat the mistake during the tournament as he eyes a second title win.
The event has introduced a unique golden ball, valued at an additional 20 points, which remains on the table as long as a 147 break is still possible. If a player achieves a maximum break, they are given the opportunity to pocket the valuable golden ball for a groundbreaking 167 break.
The stakes are high as the player who accomplishes this feat stands to earn a remarkable £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, more than triple the £250,000 prize for the tournament winner. However, O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the challenge of 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 seen potting a black ball on the practice table before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to try but saw his shot bounce off the cushion.
Fortunately for O’Sullivan, he was not the only one to miss the shot. Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui are also hopeful for better luck if they get another chance during their matches.
On the other hand, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins are eager for their practice efforts to pay off after successfully potting the golden ball. Kyren Wilson displayed confidence by making a no-look shot.
O’Sullivan will kick off his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani, the Saudi Arabian teenager, in the first round. The 49-year-old claimed victory 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.
In a statement before the competition, O’Sullivan expressed his preference for the big break over winning the tournament. He acknowledged the difficulty of achieving the 167 break and shared his skepticism about anyone being able to do it.
Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after defeating Brecel in the final last December. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the world’s top 10 players along with two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
The competition spans over three days, with the semi-finals and final set for Friday, November 21.