Ronnie O’Sullivan had an unsuccessful attempt at potting the special golden ball in a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. Known as ‘The Rocket,’ O’Sullivan aims to perform better during the actual tournament as he eyes a second title victory.
The tournament introduces a unique golden ball worth 20 additional points, which remains on the table as long as a player has the chance to achieve a perfect 147 break. If a player successfully completes a maximum break, they earn the opportunity to pot the valuable golden ball, potentially setting a record-breaking 167 break.
The stakes are notably high for the player achieving this feat, with a lucrative £760,000 ($1 million) bonus awaiting them, surpassing the standard £250,000 prize for the tournament winner. O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the challenge of potting the golden ball, indicating it is no easy task.
In a video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media, nine out of the tournament’s 12 participants were seen potting a black ball before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to try but saw his shot ricochet off the cushion.
Fortunately for O’Sullivan, he was not alone in struggling to pot the golden ball. Players like Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui also faced difficulties, hoping for better luck if the opportunity arises again during their matches.
Conversely, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins seek to capitalize on their successful attempts at potting the golden ball during practice. Kyren Wilson even displayed confidence by executing a no-look pot.
O’Sullivan’s campaign begins on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy, the Masters champion, or Saudi Arabian teen Ziyad Alqabbani in the opening round. The 49-year-old previously won the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. While O’Sullivan aims for another title in Riyadh, his ultimate goal is to achieve the first-ever 167 break in snooker history.
Expressing his aspirations, O’Sullivan stated, “I’d rather get the big break. I mean, I won the tournament before, and it’s great to win, but to get the 167, I think that’d be amazing. An amazing achievement if anybody could do it.”
With the competition featuring the world’s top 10 players and two Saudi Arabian wildcards, Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after his victory over Brecel in the previous final. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship spans three days, culminating in the semi-finals and final scheduled for Friday, November 21.