Huge record-breaking prize on table for a golden 147 ‘maximum break’ in Saudi Arabia

Any player making the first golden ‘167 maximum break’ in snooker history will be rewarded with a huge £395,000 cheque at the Riyadh Season World Masters.

World Snooker Tour have explained the rules governing the addition of a 23rd ball – titled as the Riyadh season ball – to a frame at the inaugural invitational event in Saudi Arabia involving the world’s top eight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

  • At the start of each frame, the Golden Ball will be placed on the table, in the centre of the baulk cushion.
  • If a 147 is possible in the frame, the Golden Ball will remain on the table. If a player completes a 147 maximum, he will then have the chance to pot the Golden Ball to complete the 167.
  • Once a 147 is no longer possible, the Golden Ball will be removed from the table, until the start of the next frame.
  • Any foul or infringement involving the Golden Ball incurs a penalty of 4 points or the value of the ball ‘on’, whichever is greater.

The vast six-figure sum for achieving the 167 break is put into perspective when you consider the first prize for winning the World Championship is £500,000.

It is the second biggest financial reward in the sport with Gary Wilson picking up £5,000 for making the 199th 147 at the Welsh Open last month before Joe O’Connor produced the landmark 200th at the Championship League last week.

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Watch: Ding’s masterful 147 break at The Masters in full

O’Sullivan also holds the record for maximum breaks with 15 compiled between 1997 and 2018, but has been refusing to add to that haul because he does not feel the financial incentives are worth it.

“I could maybe have had another five or six,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport at the Welsh Open. “But I went on strike a long time ago. Until they start bumping up the prize money, I might take the risk.”

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Who is set to become new world No. 1 ahead of frantic end to season?

Ronnie O’Sullivan has held the world No. 1 spot since claiming his record-equalling seventh world title in 2022 – an unbroken 23-month stay at the top – but the snooker GOAT faces a fight to retain the coveted position next season.

Ahead of the final three ranking events of the season – the World Open in Yushan, Tour Championship in Manchester and World Championship in Sheffield – the UK and Masters champion is provisionally ranked fifth in the end-of-season world rankings, 355,000 points behind Allen’s projected finishing total.

Champion of Champions winner and Players Championship winner Allen is set to see his consistency in claiming six of his 11 career ranking titles over the past three years rewarded by becoming world No. 1 for the first time in his 19-year stint on the main circuit unless O’Sullivan finishes with a flourish.

But there are still huge winner’s cheques available this season which could yet see any of the top 16 threaten to drastically alter the make-up of the latest standings.

The World Open (18-24 March) has a £170,000 first prize, the Tour Championship (1-7 April) £150,000 and the World Championship (20 April-6 May) carries a £500,000 winner’s cheque.

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‘The two most important things in the game’ – Allen opens up on his practice routines

Elsewhere, former world champions John Higgins and Neil Robertson require a strong end to the 2023/24 season to protect their respective places in the top 16.

World No. 9 Higgins is 17th on the latest list, 22,000 points adrift of Day in 16th spot, while world No. 14 Robertson occupies 31st spot on 133,500 points.

Higgins has not been outside of the top 16 since the start of the 1994/95 season with Robertson an ever-present in the top 16 since 2004/05.

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‘That’s a Barnes Wallis shot!’ – O’Sullivan thrills crowd with extraordinary pot

Provisional world rankings 2024/25

  • 1. Mark Allen (NI) 895,000
  • 2. Luca Brecel (Bel) 681,500
  • 3. Judd Trump (Eng) 661,000
  • 4. Mark Selby (Eng) 619,500
  • 5. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) 540,000
  • 6. Shaun Murphy (Eng) 459,000
  • 7. Ali Carter (Eng) 394,000
  • 8. Gary Wilson (Eng) 381,500
  • 9. Zhang Anda (Chn) 371,000
  • 10. DIng Junhui (Chn) 363,500
  • 11. Kyren Wilson (Eng) 335,000
  • 12. Mark Williams (Wal) 307,500
  • 13. Tom Ford (Eng) 290,500
  • 14. Barry Hawkins (Eng) 276,000
  • 15. Robert Milkins (Eng) 264,500
  • 16. Ryan Day (Wal) 255,500
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O’Connor makes 200th 147 in history in reaching final stage of Championship League

Joe O’Connor secured his own little slice of snooker folklore on Thursday by making the 200th competitive 147 of the modern televised professional era and the first of his career.

O’Connor’s big moment came in the third frame of his Championship League Group 7 match with Elliot Slessor on his way to a 3-2 victory over the Welsh Open semi-finalist.

The world No. 30, who turned professional in 2018, also had the chance to complete back-to-back maximums in the same match, but broke down on 72 in the next frame as Slessor hit back to win the frame.

O’Connor then enjoyed a 3-1 win over Slessor in the semi-finals before dumping Jak Jones 3-0 in the final to advance to the winners’ group stage next month boosted by a closing 95.

“These last two days have been unbelievable, first time playing Ronnie, I know he pulled out but it was nice to get a win over him,” said O’Connor, who produced the sixth 147 of the year at the Morningside Arena.

“To get my first maximum break today, I think that’s the first time I’ve been past 70 or 80 this season, I’m so pleased. I was really nervous especially after getting perfect on the blue. I wanted to play it confidentially and I ended up hitting it like a fairy and not landed on the pink. Somehow I managed to get on the black and knock it in.

“Against Jak, who had won seven matches in a row, it was probably exhausting for him, it just looked like he run out of steam and luckily I was able to get over the line.

“I’m over the moon to reach the winners’ group in my debut, I’m really looking forward to it.”

O’Connor joins John Higgins, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Stuart Bingham, Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin in the final winners’ group of the Championship League on March 12.

Jones won Group 7 with six straight wins as Slessor and O’Connor finished second on four points and Jordan Brown fourth on three.

Jones also defeated Brown 3-0 in the other semi-final.

O’Connor’s 147 comes 42 years after six-time world champion Steve Davis made the first 147 against John Spencer at the Lada Classic in Oldham in 1982.

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O’Sullivan withdraws from Championship League ahead of trip to Saudi Arabia

Ronnie O’Sullivan will take no further part in the Championship League in Leicester on Thursday after withdrawing from the event ahead of his trip to Saudi Arabia.

He won his opening two matches in Group 7 against Sam Craigie (3-2) and Elliot Slessor (3-2) on Wednesday, but lost his next two to Jak Jones (0-3) and Joe O’Connor (3-2) – making a 113 break in the fourth frame – to finish the day fourth in the chase for a semi-final spot.

O’Sullivan’s decision to quit the invitational event means Jones will head the section on three straight wins heading for the second day with Slessor, O’Connor, Craigie, Pang Junxu and Jordan Brown also battling it out on Thursday.

“Very excited to be playing in the World Masters of Snooker!,” O’Sullivan recently wrote on social media. “Can’t wait to get out there and play in Saudi Arabia for the first time!”

World No. 40 Jones topped the section on Wednesday – including a 3-0 victory over O’Sullivan boosted by a 129 in the opening frame – with Rocket Ronnie finishing his day on two points alongside O’Connor and Brown. The top four reach the semi-finals on Thursday evening.

Slessor and Pang have a solitary point with Craigie losing all four of his matches to sit bottom of the group ahead of the concluding group games.

Stuart Bingham, Chris Wakelin, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins and Kyren Wilson have already booked their place in the winners’ group (March 12-13).

The winner of the Championship League also earns a spot in the Champion of Champions later this year.

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‘Ronnie, ruthless, relentless’ – O’Sullivan enjoys huge slice of luck on return to action

Ronnie O’Sullivan returned to action at the Championship League in Leicester on Wednesday as the seven-time world champion began his Group 7 campaign against Sam Craigie with a 3-2 win.

The UK and Masters champion saw an attempted safety go wrong as a double kiss on the blue ended up with the blue ball dropping down a left middle pocket before he wrapped up the frame with a delightful long pot on the pink.

“Oh no, Ronnie, ruthless, relentless, no guilt whatsoever,” said commentator Phil Yates. “Quite rightly so because this game, you can get good and bad luck. When you get the good, you might as well take advantage of it.”

O’Sullivan and Craigie are joined by Elliot Slessor, Joe O’Connor, Pang Junxu and Jak Jones and Jordan Brown at the Championship League with the winner of Group 7 on Thursday night qualifying for the final stage.

Stuart Bingham, Chris Wakelin, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins and Kyren Wilson have already booked their place in the winners’ group (March 12-13).

‘Gutted to miss out’ – Wilson reveals inspiration after reaching Championship League final stage

Kyren Wilson continued his impressive form on Tuesday to book his spot in the final group stage of the Championship League with a 3-0 win over Pang Junxu in the Group 6 final in Leicester.

The world No. 11 produced breaks of 76 and 89 in his victory over former World Snooker Tour Classic finalist Pang after overcoming Sam Craigie 3-2 with knocks of 67 and 74 as he hit back from 2-0 behind to secure a 3-2 victory.

The two-time Championship League winner ensured qualification with a 3-2 win over Ricky Walden before losing his final two groups matches to O’Connor and Pang, who topped the group on frames won with Craigie, Wilson and Slessor advancing to the last four.

Wilson produced a knock of 131 against Walden, who responded with a 142 in the fourth frame.

“I had a bit of time off between my first two matches and I ended up missing dinner, so I found myself scrambling trying to conserve energy,” said Wilson.

“Yesterday, I was really at the peak of my powers, but honestly it was driving me crazy today, I just couldn’t do with a seventh group here.

“The dangling carrot that is the Champion of Champions is always there with this event, I was gutted to miss out this season. I will be trying my hardest to win this to make sure I’m in the hat next year.”

The winner of the Championship League also earns a spot in the Champion of Champions later this year.

Stuart Bingham, Chris Wakelin, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and John Higgins have already booked their place in the winners’ group (March 12-13) with the two final places being settled this week.

Pang, Craigie, Slessor, and O’Connor are due to be joined by world No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jak Jones and Jordan Brown for Group 7 on Wednesday.

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