Ronnie O’Sullivan’s attempt to pocket the special golden ball during a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship fell short. Known as ‘The Rocket,’ O’Sullivan is aiming to secure his second tournament victory without any similar misses.
This competition introduces a unique golden ball that adds 20 extra points to a player’s score, remaining on the table until a flawless 147 break is within reach. If a player achieves a maximum break, they earn the opportunity to pocket the valuable golden ball for a groundbreaking 167 break record.
The stakes are substantial, with the player who accomplishes this feat being awarded a staggering £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, surpassing the £250,000 prize for winning the tournament. Despite the high rewards, 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 successfully potting a black ball before attempting the golden ball shot. O’Sullivan was the first to try but saw his shot bounce 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 also struggled to pot the golden ball during practice.
Conversely, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins are optimistic after successfully pocketing the golden ball in their practice sessions. Kyren Wilson even displayed confidence with a no-look shot.
O’Sullivan will begin his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani in the opening round. The 49-year-old previously triumphed in 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 167 break in snooker history.
Looking ahead to the competition, O’Sullivan stated, “I’d rather get the big break. I mean, I won the tournament before and it’s great to win the tournament, but to get the 167 I think that’d be amazing. An amazing achievement if anybody could do it.”
Mark Allen, the defending champion, secured victory in last December’s final against Luca Brecel. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship comprises the world’s top 10 players alongside two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
The tournament spans three days, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Friday, November 21.