RIYADH: World champion Luca Brecel is excited to be among those aiming to complete the first ever 167 break after a new gold ball was unveiled at the first professional snooker event in Saudi Arabia this week.
The inaugural season of the Riyadh World Masters of Snooker offers players the chance to win a $500,000 prize if they reach the maximum number of 147 and then sink the golden ball.
The golden ball, worth 20 points, sits on the top cushion during the frame for as long as the player can complete the maximum, and is removed when the chance is gone.
The event, which runs until Wednesday, will feature the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams and Ding Junhui.
“Yeah, it’s exciting the Ballon d’Or. Of course it’s a big prize and, well, it’s going to be very difficult. It’s a nice challenge and I’d like to go for it. Even if I don’t make it, I’d just like to try, Brecel told Reuters on Tuesday.
“The 147 itself is really difficult, but now you have to be perfect on the black to get to the gold ball, which is even more difficult.” Former world champion Judd Trump is also enjoying the challenge.
Also read: Opening ceremony for Paris Olympics to offer 326,000 tickets
“It’s something great. I think it’s always good to push new ideas, and I think the challenge of making another breakthrough, here at 167, would be very special,” Trump said.
“I think the 167 is just a little bit heavier now and with that comes a bigger price. So I think the 167 is very special for the first time.”
Following the announcement last month of the creation of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, which will become the ‘fourth major’, Brecel said it was good to see the sport expanding to new countries.
“(It’s) very good for us and for snooker. It’s nice that we can come to these countries and hopefully Qatar and Dubai will follow and maybe in the future they will also go to the US and make snooker really, really big. all the countries of the world ,” he said.
After agreeing to a ten-year contract, the first year of the tournament will take place in Riyadh from August 31 to September 7. It will be a points event open to all tour players plus six local wild cards.
