January 22nd 2024.
Snooker superstar Ronnie O'Sullivan has expressed his support for the upcoming tournament in Saudi Arabia, stating that it is a positive move for the sport. The World Snooker Tour has announced that a tournament will be held in Riyadh, with a unique twist - the introduction of a 'golden ball' that could potentially lead to a maximum break of 167.
The tournament, known as the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, is set to take place in March and will feature the top eight players in the world, including O'Sullivan himself. In addition, two wildcard entries will also compete in the 10-player event.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this tournament is the inclusion of the golden ball, also known as the 'Riyadh Season ball'. This ball is worth a whopping 20 points, but can only be potted after a player has achieved a maximum break of 147. However, it is still unclear whether the golden ball will remain on the table for the entire game or if players will face penalties for hitting it during play.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the golden ball, O'Sullivan is open to the idea of adding a 23rd ball to the table and is excited to compete in Saudi Arabia. He recently won his fourth trophy of the season at the World Grand Prix, defeating Judd Trump in the final.
When asked about the golden ball, O'Sullivan replied, "What's the prize for a 167, have they announced it? I'm sure it'll be a hefty prize. The Saudis can do what they like - they're a powerful outfit. I think it'll be good, it'd be great to get out there and play. Every other sport seems to be doing stuff in Saudi, so it'd be great to get out there."
His sentiments were echoed by fellow snooker star Judd Trump, who also supports the introduction of the golden ball. "It's completely different. They're trying something new and I hope all the players can get behind it," said the world No.2. "Every player wants to be the first to do something, so it'll be a great achievement if I can do it."
It is clear that O'Sullivan and Trump are both looking forward to competing in Saudi Arabia and are intrigued by the inclusion of the golden ball. With the tournament still a few months away, fans can only speculate about how the golden ball will affect the game and what kind of prizes will be up for grabs. But one thing is for sure - the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker is shaping up to be an exciting and unique event for the sport.
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