Ronnie O’Sullivan had an unsuccessful attempt at potting the special golden ball during a practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. The renowned player aims to perform better in the actual tournament to secure his second title.
The competition has introduced a unique golden ball, valued at 20 additional points, which remains on the table as long as a player has a chance to score a 147 break. Achieving a maximum break allows the player the opportunity to pot the high-value golden ball for a potential record-breaking 167 break.
The stakes are notably high as the player who accomplishes this feat stands to receive a substantial £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, significantly more than the £250,000 prize awarded to the tournament winner. O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the challenge of potting the golden ball.
In a video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media, nine out of the 12 tournament participants were captured potting a black ball before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to try but saw his shot bounce off the cushion.
Fortunately, O’Sullivan wasn’t the only one who missed the shot. Other players like Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui will also be aiming for success should they get another chance during their matches.
Meanwhile, Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and John Higgins are hopeful that their training efforts pay off after successfully potting the golden ball. Kyren Wilson even displayed confidence with a no-look pot.
O’Sullivan is set to start his campaign on Wednesday evening against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani. The 49-year-old previously won the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. Although O’Sullivan seeks another title, his ultimate ambition is to achieve the first-ever 167 break in snooker history.
The defending champion, Mark Allen, will also be looking to retain his title after triumphing in the last December final against Brecel. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the top 10 players globally alongside two Saudi Arabian wildcards.
This three-day competition will culminate in both semi-finals and the final taking place on Friday, November 21.