Mark Allen is competing in Saudi Arabia this week. (Image: Getty)
There might be a lucrative bonus available to the world’s best players this week but not everyone is satisfied with how to get it. The second Riyadh Season Saudi Snooker Invitational is underway, and will culminate on Friday with the winner to take home £250,000.
But that figure pales into significance when compared to the prize .
Placed in the middle of the baulk cushion, players cannot line it up until they have notched a 147 maximum, at which point ball no.23 comes into play for an additional 20 points.
And as well as becoming the first player in history to officially achieve a 167 break, whoever manages the feat will receive a mammoth £790,000 cash reward. That figure has been doubled by organisers from 2023, after no player managed it in the inaugural event.
Northern Irishman wants to see a subtle change to the procedure though. He believes that if players are to be tempted into going all out for the golden ball, then it needs to be placed elsewhere.
“I genuinely think if they want to see a bit of history with the 167 then they should put it somewhere else,” he told SportsBoom. “Outside of maybe , I don’t know who could pot that ball for a million. It’s a massive amount of money.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending champion in Riyadh. (Image: Getty)
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“They could put it somewhere more sensible and then a lot more people would go for it I think. Because of where it is, a lot of people would be put off by it straightaway. For argument’s sake if people knew it was going on the blue spot once you pot the blue and pink it would make it a bit more exciting.”
got closest last time around, . He later admitted “I was gone” as the prospect of going from no money for a 147, to a huge amount for a 167 in one shot, got closer.
“I know John had a chance last year and he said his hands and legs were shaking because it was a lot of money,” added Allen. “You’re talking about a four-time world champion and one of the greatest ever. If he’s talking like that, what chance have the rest of us got.”
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The world’s top-10 players have all been handed an invitation, along with two wildcard entrants. Allen’s first chance to land the cash prize will come on Thursday against , with both having gone straight into the quarter-final stage of the draw.
Reigning champion O’Sullivan opens his campaign on the same day. After lifting the silverware last year, he was asked about not fashioning himself a chance on the golden ball, and vowed “I’ll find it next time” after learning about the increased prize pot.