Ronnie O’Sullivan had a tough time trying to pot the special golden ball during a practice session before the upcoming Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. Known as ‘The Rocket,’ he aims to avoid similar misses during the actual tournament as he eyes his second title win.
The championship has introduced a unique golden ball worth an additional 20 points, remaining on the table if a player can potentially achieve a perfect 147 break. Successfully achieving a maximum break gives the player an opportunity to pot the valuable golden ball, resulting in a record-breaking 167 break.
The stakes are high with a remarkable bonus of £760,000 ($1 million) awaiting the player who accomplishes this feat, significantly more than the £250,000 prize for the tournament winner. However, O’Sullivan’s practice session revealed the challenge of potting the golden ball.
A video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media showed nine out of the 12 tournament participants attempting to pot the black ball before aiming at the golden ball. O’Sullivan, being the first to take a shot, unfortunately saw his attempt bounce off the cushion.
Fortunately for O’Sullivan, he wasn’t 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 chance during their matches.
Meanwhile, players like Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins are eager for their practice efforts to pay off after successfully potting the golden ball. Kyren Wilson even displayed confidence with a no-look shot.
O’Sullivan begins his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani, the Saudi Arabian teenager. The 49-year-old previously won the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. While he seeks another victory in Riyadh, O’Sullivan expressed his desire to be the first player to achieve a 167 break.
Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after defeating Brecel in the previous final. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the top 10 players globally, along with two Saudi Arabian wildcard entries.
The competition spans three days, with the semi-finals and the final set for Friday, November 21.
