The snooker world once again witnessed thrilling moments with an innovative tournament held in Saudi Arabia. Designed while staying true to traditional snooker rules, this tournament introduced a new dimension to the game with the special “Riyadh Season” ball, which is gold-colored and worth 20 points. Along with striking innovations such as raising the maximum score to 167, the event featured the top 10 players in the world rankings and two wildcard players from Saudi Arabia, offering an intense competition and a substantial prize pool that captivated snooker enthusiasts.
The tournament closely resembles traditional snooker in terms of rules, with the only difference being the maximum score, which is 167 instead of 147. This change is made possible by a new ball called the “Riyadh Season ball,” worth 20 points, alongside the classic colored balls. The gold-colored ball takes place in line with the brown, blue, pink, and black balls positioned in the middle of the back cushion. However, this ball has its own unique rules. It cannot be potted after a red ball like the classic colored balls. If a player pots this ball, they receive a 4-point penalty. The only condition under which it can be legally potted is if the player has already reached the target score of 147. Another important rule is that if a 147 break is no longer possible for any player on the table, the referee removes the ball, and it is repositioned in the next frame. For example, if a player pots a red ball followed by the pink ball early in the frame, achieving the maximum score becomes impossible, leading the referee to remove the gold ball and allowing the game to continue as usual.
Although the tournament is not a ranking event, the prize pool is quite substantial. The total prize fund is £785,000, with the champion receiving £250,000. This prize holds the title of the second-largest reward in snooker, alongside “The Masters,” following the World Championship. The gold ball itself carries significant financial value, as a player who achieves the maximum score of 167 would earn a massive $1 million. Several players managed to surpass the 120-point mark, but none succeeded in claiming this grand prize.
The tournament invited the top 10 players in the world rankings. Additionally, Saudi Arabian players Ahmed Aseeri and Abdulraouf Sayegh participated as wildcard entries. The draw structure paired the 9th and 10th seeds against the two wildcard players in the first round. The winners of these matches then faced the 7th and 8th seeds in the second round. Following these rounds, the remaining players continued their matches.
The first-round matches ended with clear victories for the favorites. The first match saw Ding take on Abdulraouf. Despite showcasing impressive shots, the Saudi player couldn’t maintain consistency due to simple mistakes, resulting in a 4-0 victory for Ding. The second match between Zhang and Aseeri saw Zhang attempt a 167 break twice. However, his first attempt broke down at the ninth red, and in the second attempt, an unfortunate power outage occurred at 72 points, causing a 30-minute break. Upon resumption, Zhang lost his rhythm and finished with a score of 97, eventually winning the match 4-0, just like Ding.
The second round saw major surprises. In the first match, Ding maintained his first-round form and achieved a 4-0 victory over England’s “Magician,” Shaun Murphy. In the second match, despite a lack of match practice, Belgian player Luca Brecel delivered an impressive performance against Zhang and advanced to the next round, offering hope for future matches.
The quarter-finals were full of intense action. The match between Luca Brecel and England’s Kyren Wilson was thrilling, with Brecel emerging victorious with a 4-3 score. Another exciting match took place between Mark Williams and Judd Trump, where Williams secured the win in the deciding frame with top-level shots. Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan achieved a commanding 4-0 victory over Ding, and Mark Allen defeated Mark Selby 4-2.
The semi-finals were filled with surprises. Ronnie O’Sullivan couldn’t maintain his previous form and suffered a 4-2 defeat to Mark Allen, bidding farewell to the tournament. In another surprise result, Luca Brecel delivered an outstanding performance against Mark Williams, securing his place in the final.
The final match was a one-sided domination. From start to finish, Mark Allen left his opponent with no chance, executing excellent shots and securing a 5-1 victory to claim the championship.