Riyadh Season Snooker Championship schedule, TV coverage, prize money and golden ball rules
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The renamed Riyadh Season Snooker Championship begins on Wednesday, with the golden ball returning with an even bigger prize attached this time round. The tournament was held for the first time in March this year, then called the World Masters of Snooker and won by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Rocket beat Luca Brecel in the final in Riyadh, having beaten John Higgins and Judd Trump to make the showpiece. The tournament saw the strange addition of the gold ball, which is worth 20 points and can only be potted after a 147 has been made, meaning a 167 is available to players.
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John Higgins got closest last year but fell short as the tension mounted, but there is serious incentive to make the historic break in this week’s event. Last time there was $500,000 on the line for a 167, this time the prize has been bumped up to $1m (£786,000) for the first player to manage it.
The non-ranking tournament sees two Saudi wildcards join the top 10 players in the world rankings in a quickfire three-day event at Boulevard City in Riyadh. Wednesday 18 December. 2pm (UK times). 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. Kyren Wilson vs Brecel/Zhang/Aseeri. Judd Trump vs Mark Williams. Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Murphy/Ding/Saigh. Friday 20 December. 2pm: Semi-finals. 7pm: Final.
