• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Ronnie O'Sullivan makes Golden Ball promise ahead of $1 million Saudi snooker tournament debut

Home> Snooker

Published 12:08 5 Mar 2024 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan makes Golden Ball promise ahead of $1 million Saudi snooker tournament debut

Ronnie O'Sullivan is playing at the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, where a new Golden Ball has been introduced.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Ronnie O'Sullivan has made a Golden Ball promise ahead of his debut in the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.

Following an opening ceremony where barely anyone was present, the tournament kicked off on Monday.

The event features ten of the world's best players, battling it out for an overall prize money fund of $1 million.

But there is an added incentive this time around as a new 'Golden Ball' has been added into the mix.

Advert

The 23rd ball is worth 20 points, meaning the maximum break is now 167 instead of the usual 147.

The ball is situated at the baulk cushion, can only be potted after the final black and is removed from the table if a player is unsuccessful.

The prize for being the first person to do it is a massive £395,000 and John Higgins gave it a go on day one but ultimately fell short on a break of 120 in his 4-2 win over Mark Williams.

O'Sullivan is in action on Tuesday, taking on Higgins in the quarter-final at Boulevard City.

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

The seven-time world champion loves a challenge and has vowed to produce a Golden Ball maximum break.

Speaking to Eurosport, he said: "It doesn’t matter where they put that golden ball, I’m going to find it.

"Maximums, we’ve all done them, but to try and make a maximum and try and pot this golden ball and hopefully scoop up a big prize.

"I do like a challenge and I’ll certainly go for it because I think it’s great that the promoters have put on such a great event.

"It would be nice to succeed in potting the golden ball and making a 167 break.

"It would be a nice thank you to the promoters that have put on a good event."

'Rocket' has hit plenty of 147's in his illustrious career, including the fastest in history back in 1997.

He once purposely hit 146 because in protest at the prize money for 147 being just £10,000.

O'Sullivan has already posted a video of him practicing hitting the Golden Ball, showing he is not taking it lightly.

Featured Image Credit: X/ Ronnie O'Sullivan

Topics: Ronnie OSullivan, Snooker, Saudi Arabia

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Ronnie O'Sullivan has made his feelings clear on snooker in Saudi Arabia amid criticism over Masters event
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan Snooker Return Date Set After Two-Month Absence
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan Snubbed From Major Tournament as WST Confirm Replacement
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan To Launch Dedicated Snooker TV Channel Featuring New Format

Choose your content:

25 days ago
26 days ago
27 days ago
28 days ago
  • Getty
    25 days ago

    Snooker Star Arrested for Match-Fixing Was Banned and Sent to Prison

    He was banned from snooker before being sent to jail.

    Snooker
  • Getty Images
    26 days ago

    Neil Robertson Masters Win Creates Freak Near-Impossible Snooker Record

    The odds of it happening were 220,000-1.

    Snooker
  • Getty Images - Ge
    27 days ago

    Real Reason Why Masters Snooker Table Looks Square on TV Amid Fan Anger

    Coverage of the Masters has become a talking point following a change in the typical camera angle.

    Snooker
  • Getty
    28 days ago

    Masters Champion Remains Banned From Snooker Event After Major Scandal

    The former champion is banned from professional snooker.

    Snooker