Ronnie O’Sullivan had a missed opportunity to pocket the special golden ball during a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. Known as ‘The Rocket,’ O’Sullivan aims to avoid a similar mistake during the tournament as he vies for his second championship win.
The event features an additional golden ball, valued at an extra 20 points, left on the table as long as a player can achieve a 147 break. In case a player accomplishes a maximum break, they are granted the opportunity to pot the lucrative golden ball for a record-breaking 167 break.
The competition offers a substantial £760,000 ($1 million) bonus to the player who achieves this milestone, surpassing the £250,000 prize awarded to the tournament winner. O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the difficulty of pocketing the golden ball.
A video shared on social media by the World Snooker Tour captured nine out of the 12 competitors successfully potting a black before attempting the golden ball shot. O’Sullivan was the first to try but unfortunately saw his shot rebound off the cushion.
Fortunately for O’Sullivan, he was not alone in missing the mark. 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.
Conversely, 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 his confidence with a no-look shot.
O’Sullivan will kick off his campaign against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani on Wednesday evening. The 49-year-old previously triumphed 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 achieve a 167 break, a feat yet to be accomplished.
Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after defeating Luca Brecel in the previous final. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship includes the top 10 players globally along with two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
The competition spans three days, with the semi-finals and final set for Friday, November 21.