How much money is up grabs for a golden 167 snooker maximum in Saudi Arabia? Huge incentive for Ronnie O’Sullivan and Co

Any player making the first golden ‘167 maximum break’ in snooker history will be rewarded with a huge £395,000 cheque at the Riyadh Season World Masters.

World Snooker Tour have explained the rules governing the addition of a 23rd ball – titled as the Riyadh season ball – to a frame at the inaugural invitational event in Saudi Arabia involving the world’s top eight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

• At the start of each frame, the Golden Ball will be placed on the table, in the centre of the baulk cushion.
• If a 147 is possible in the frame, the Golden Ball will remain on the table. If a player completes a 147 maximum, he will then have the chance to pot the Golden Ball to complete the 167.
• Once a 147 is no longer possible, the Golden Ball will be removed from the table, until the start of the next frame.
• Any foul or infringement involving the Golden Ball incurs a penalty of 4 points or the value of the ball ‘on’, whichever is greater.

The vast six-figure sum for achieving the 167 break is put into perspective when you consider the first prize for winning the World Championship is £500,000.

It is the second biggest financial reward in the sport with Gary Wilson picking up £5,000 for making the 199th 147 at the Welsh Open last month before Joe O’Connor produced the landmark 200th at the Championship League last week.

O’Sullivan also holds the record for maximum breaks with 15 compiled between 1997 and 2018, but has been refusing to add to that haul because he does not feel the financial incentives are worth it.

“I could maybe have had another five or six,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport at the Welsh Open. “But I went on strike a long time ago. Until they start bumping up the prize money, I might take the risk.”