Mark Allen has revealed the location of the new golden ball in snooker for the next Saudi Arabia invitational.
From March 4–6, ten of the best snooker players in the world will travel to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, to compete in the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. Ronnie O’Sullivan, Luca Brecel, Allen, and other celebrities will be competing for a piece of the £800,000 prize money.
But because a 23rd ball has been added to the table, the contentious event will not be like the others. A fresh golden ball, valued at 20 points, can be utilized to breach the 167-point mark.
“Every game will be played under World Snooker rules and regulations but with the introduction of an innovative new concept, a 23rd ball known as the Riyadh Season ball,” the World Snooker Tour said in a statement.
“If a player is on a maximum break to make it 167, this gold ball will be worth 20 points and can only be potted once all other balls have been successfully cleared from the table.”
But up until now, it has been unclear exactly where the new ball will be put, whether it will be available for use at any time during the frame, or if it will only be introduced following a maximum 147 break.
That was until 11-time winner Allen, a 38-year-old Northern Irishman, rushed to Instagram to share a crucial hint about where the ball started. He clarified that the golden ball would be in play from the beginning and would only be taken out when a 147 was impossible to achieve.
“We’ve been told it’s going in the middle of the baulk cushion,” the writer stated. When a 147 can no longer be achieved in a frame, it will be eliminated. If it is moved lawfully within the frame, it remains where it ends.”
The renowned O’Sullivan, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be friendly to the newcomer, asserting that the prize money up for grabs is all that interests him.
“What’s the prize for a 167?” he asked. Have they made the announcement? It will undoubtedly be a substantial prize.
“Listen, the Saudis are free to act anyway they choose. They are a formidable group. It will be fantastic to travel there because it appears that every other sport is active in Saudi Arabia.”
Leave a Reply