Snooker golden ball rules as Ronnie O’Sullivan can bank £760k in a shot | Other | Sport
Snooker is returning to Saudi Arabia with the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, and with it comes the unique golden ball. The introduction of this 23rd ball on the table has sparked much curiosity and intrigue ahead of the three-day event in the Middle East, adding an exciting twist to the sport.
A staggering £760,000 is up for grabs for the first player in Saudi Arabia to successfully pot the golden ball. This bonus is even greater than the £500,000 awarded to the World Championship winner and is undoubtedly a strong incentive for the sport’s biggest names, including Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Zhao Xintong, Judd Trump, Mark Allen, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, Kyren Wilson, John Higgins, Ding Junhui, Ayman Alamri and Ziyad Alqabbani are also competing in Saudi Arabia.
Expectations are high for a thrilling and chaotic competition as players strive to make snooker history and earn a substantial financial reward. But what can we anticipate from this week’s event?
Where is the gold ball on the table?
Each frame will start with the new golden ball on the baulk cushion, level with the brown spot. It remains on the table as long as a player can make a 147 break and is then removed once that maximum is no longer achievable until the next frame.
What is the point value of the golden ball?
The revolutionary golden ball positioned on the table in Saudi Arabia is valued at a staggering 20 points, though it can only be attempted once a player has already completed a maximum 147 break.
Sinking the 23rd ball would see a competitor etch their name into snooker folklore with a record-breaking 167 total and pocket £760,000 in prize money.
Can players foul on the golden ball?
Should a player mistakenly strike the golden ball before the target ball, or pot the 20-point sphere prematurely during the frame, they will incur a four-point penalty.
There remains uncertainty over whether a 167 break would gain official recognition in the record books, given that an additional 20-point ball doesn’t feature in traditional regulations and might not be accepted as the new maximum break.
What is a second player makes a 167?
In previous instances where a golden ball has appeared on the table, rules stated that only the first person to pot it would receive the cash prize.
However, this week each player will bank £760k if they make the shot, even if they are not the first to do so in Riyadh.
