The upcoming World Masters of Snooker in Saudi Arabia has caused quite a stir within the snooker community, thanks to a new addition – the ‘gold ball’. This special ball, worth a whopping 20 points, can only be potted by players who are on a 147 maximum break.
The ball is placed on the baulk cushion at the beginning of each frame, and if a player pots it early or hits it before the object ball, it results in a four-point foul.
If a player successfully makes a 147 break, they will have the chance to pot the Gold Ball and score an extra 20 points, totaling a unique break of 167. The first player to achieve this feat will win a prize of $500,000 (£400,000).
While some fans are not happy with this new rule, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is more concerned about the prize money for achieving the 167 break.
He commented, “What’s the prize for a 167? Have they announced it? I’m sure that it will be a hefty prize. Every other sport seems to be doing stuff in Saudi, so it will be great to go out there.”
The Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker is scheduled to take place from March 4 to March 6 at the Boulevard Arena in Riyadh, with a total prize pot of $1 million (approx £790k). Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting and controversial tournament.
