December 18th 2024.
Judd Trump, the current world number one in snooker, has his eyes set on the prestigious trophy more than the hefty sum of money that comes with it. As the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship begins this week, the players will have a unique opportunity to make history by achieving the first ever 167 break in the sport.
The tournament will introduce a golden ball, worth 20 points, that can only be potted after a player has made a 147 break. This means that whoever pots the golden ball will not only secure a place in the record books, but also walk away with a staggering $1 million prize. However, despite the temptation of the big bonus, Trump is not willing to take any unnecessary risks and jeopardize his chances of winning the tournament.
"I'd much rather enjoy winning a tournament than the money," Trump stated in a pre-event interview. "Don't get me wrong, $1 million is a lot of money, but it wouldn't really change my life at the moment. I'd rather focus on winning the tournament and leave the historic break up to chance. Maybe there are some other players who will go for the excitement more than me at the moment. But, if it were a $10 million bonus, I'd definitely go all out for it!"
Trump's main rival and fellow snooker legend, Ronnie O'Sullivan, on the other hand, seems more determined to go for the historic break. He has even practiced a unique shot to get from the black spot back to the baulk cushion, where the golden ball starts the frame. "I've tried potting the black and going up to the baulk cushion to get the golden ball," O'Sullivan revealed. "I've practiced a few of those shots because if I get the chance, I want to give myself a good chance of getting that last ball."
The first edition of this event, held in March, was won by O'Sullivan himself. He believes that while it will be a challenging task, someone from the top 10 players in the world, including himself and Trump, will have a chance to make the 167 break this week. "Best-of-seven, three matches - it's a big ask," O'Sullivan said. "But with a $1 million prize on the line, I'm sure someone will have the opportunity to go for it. No one has ever won such a big prize in snooker before."
Former world champion Ken Doherty also shares the same sentiment, believing that the high caliber of players in the field gives a good chance for the 167 break to be achieved. "If someone wins that golden ball prize, it would be amazing. What a Christmas present that would be!" Doherty exclaimed. "The top players always have a good chance of making a 147, and with the added incentive of the big prize, they will definitely go for it. That makes it all the more intriguing for the fans."
As someone who has come close to achieving a 147 break himself, Doherty can only imagine the pressure and disappointment a player would feel if they miss out on the $1 million bonus. "Missing that for $1 million, can you imagine?" Doherty said with a laugh. "Well, it would make me feel better, anyway."
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