Ronnie O’Sullivan had a challenging practice session before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, missing the opportunity to pot the special golden ball. As ‘The Rocket’ gears up for the tournament, he aims to secure the championship trophy for the second time.

A unique feature of the event is the introduction of a golden ball worth an additional 20 points, which remains on the table as long as a player can achieve a 147 break. If a player achieves a maximum break, they have the chance to pot the valuable golden ball for a groundbreaking 167 break.

The player who accomplishes this remarkable feat stands to earn a staggering £760,000 ($1 million) bonus, surpassing the £250,000 prize awarded to the tournament winner. However, O’Sullivan’s practice session highlighted the difficulty of potting the golden ball.

In a video shared by the World Snooker Tour on social media, nine out of the twelve competitors were seen potting a black ball before attempting the golden ball. O’Sullivan was the first to try but his shot rebounded off the cushion.

Other players like Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui also faced challenges with potting the golden ball. Mark Williams, Mark Allen, John Higgins, and Kyren Wilson showcased their skills by successfully potting the golden ball.

O’Sullivan is set to kick off his campaign in the championship against either Shaun Murphy or Ziyad Alqabbani. The 49-year-old previously won the inaugural tournament in March 2024 by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. While aiming for another title in Riyadh, O’Sullivan expressed his desire to achieve a 167 break, a milestone yet to be reached in snooker history.

Mark Allen returns as the defending champion after defeating Brecel in the previous final. The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship features the top 10 players in the world and two Saudi Arabian wildcards. The competition spans three days, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for November 21.