Ronnie O’Sullivan had a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship where he missed the opportunity to pocket the special golden ball. This unique ball, worth an additional 20 points, remains on the table during a potential maximum 147 break. If a player achieves a perfect break, they can aim to pot the lucrative golden ball to set a new record of 167 points.
The player who accomplishes this remarkable feat stands to receive a substantial bonus of £760,000 ($1 million), surpassing the tournament winner’s prize of £250,000. O’Sullivan’s practice attempt 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 were seen pocketing a black ball before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to try but saw his shot ricochet off the cushion.
Other players such as Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui also faced difficulties with the golden ball. In contrast, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins successfully potted the golden ball during their practice sessions. Kyren Wilson even displayed his confidence by making a no-look pot.
O’Sullivan is set to begin his campaign in the tournament against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani. The 49-year-old previously won the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. While aiming for another title in Riyadh, O’Sullivan expressed his desire to achieve the first-ever 167 break.
The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the top 10 players globally, along with two Saudi Arabian wildcards. The competition spans three days, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Friday, November 21. Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after his victory in the previous year’s final against Luca Brecel.