Ronnie O’Sullivan missed an opportunity to pocket the exclusive golden ball in a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. As he aims to secure the title for the second time, he will be looking to avoid a similar mishap during the tournament.
The championship has introduced a special golden ball worth an additional 20 points, which remains on the table as long as a player is on course for a 147 break. Should a player achieve a maximum break, they will have the chance to pot the valuable golden ball for a groundbreaking 167 break.
The stakes are high, with the player who accomplishes this feat set to receive a substantial £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, more than triple the £250,000 awarded to the tournament winner. However, O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the difficulty of potting the golden ball.
A video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media captured nine out of the tournament’s 12 participants attempting to pot the golden ball after sinking a black ball on the practice table. Despite O’Sullivan being the first to attempt the shot, he saw his ball rebound off the cushion.
Fortunately for O’Sullivan, he was not alone in missing the target. Other players like Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui will also be hoping for better luck if they get another opportunity during their matches.
Meanwhile, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins will be eager for their practice efforts to pay off after successfully potting the golden ball. Kyren Wilson even displayed his confidence with a no-look pot.
O’Sullivan will commence his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy or Saudi Arabian player Ziyad Alqabbani in the opening round. The 49-year-old emerged victorious in the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. While O’Sullivan is vying for another title in Riyadh, he expressed his desire to be the first to achieve a 167 break.
In a pre-competition statement, O’Sullivan expressed his preference for achieving the significant break, stating that while winning the tournament was great, achieving a 167 break would be an extraordinary feat. He acknowledged the challenge of potting the golden ball and speculated that it would be a difficult task for any player to accomplish.
Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after defeating Luca Brecel in the previous final. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the top 10 players globally alongside two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
The competition spans three days, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Friday, November 21.