The renamed Riyadh Season Snooker Championship begins on Wednesday, with the golden ball returning with an excellent greater prize hooked up this time spherical.
The match was held for the primary time in March this yr, then known as the World Masters of Snooker and received by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Rocket beat Luca Brecel within the last in Riyadh, having overwhelmed John Higgins and Judd Trump to make the showpiece.
The match noticed the unusual addition of the gold ball, which is value 20 factors and may solely be potted after a 147 has been made, which means a 167 is out there to gamers.
John Higgins acquired closest final yr however fell quick as the strain mounted, however there’s critical incentive to make the historic break on this week’s occasion.
Final time there was $500,000 on the road for a 167, this time the prize has been bumped as much as $1m (£786,000) for the primary participant to handle it.
The non-ranking match sees two Saudi wildcards be a part of the highest 10 gamers on the planet rankings in a quickfire three-day occasion at Boulevard Metropolis in Riyadh.
Riyadh Season Snooker Championship draw and schedule
Wednesday 18 December
2pm (UK occasions)
Ding Junhui vs Abdulraouf Saigh
3pm
Zhang Anda vs Ahmed Aseeri
7pm
Shaun Murphy vs Ding/Saigh
8pm
Luca Brecel vs Zhang/Aseeri
Thursday 19 December
2pm
Mark Selby vs Mark Allen
3pm
Kyren Wilson vs Brecel/Zhang/Aseeri
7pm
Judd Trump vs Mark Williams
8pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Murphy/Ding/Saigh
Friday 20 December
2pm: Semi-finals
7pm: Remaining
What’s the cope with the golden ball?
Every body will see a gold ball within the centre of the baulk cushion, in step with the brown spot from the beginning.
The gold ball can solely legally be potted after a 147 has been made, it’s value 20 factors, which means a break of 167 is feasible.
The primary participant to make a 167, which has by no means been accomplished earlier than, will win $1m (£786,000).
As quickly as a 147 is now not a chance in any body, the gold ball will probably be eliminated by the referee.
As per WST: ‘Any foul or infringement involving the Golden Ball incurs a penalty of 4 factors or the worth of the ball “on”, whichever is larger.’
Tips on how to watch the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship
The occasion is being proven totally free on DAZN.
Riyadh Season Snooker Championship prize cash
Winner: £250,000
Runner-up: £125,000
Semi-finals: £75,000
Quarter-finals: £50,000
Spherical two: £25,000
Spherical one: £5,000
MORE: Ken Doherty wins epic match with ‘clearance from 1997’ after ‘collapsing like MFI wardrobe’
MORE: World quantity 84 Lei Peifan wins Scottish Open in mammoth shock
MORE: Mark Allen questions what ‘irritating’ Jack Lisowski is considering
