Saudi golden ball bonus not enough at $1 million, reckons Judd Trump

12/18/2024 05:00 AM

Judd Trump will not be going all out to make the first ever 167 break in snooker history this week, saying the $1m bonus is not enough to focus on potting the golden ball.

The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship starts on Wednesday with the novelty golden ball involved which is worth 20 points and can only be potted after a 147 break has been made.

This will allow the first player to make it to make history as the first to make a 167 and will win $1m (£786,650) for their efforts if they do so.

Trump would obviously love to win the prize, but he is not going to be focusing on it, just wanting to get frames and the tournament won rather than take risks to make the historic break.

‘No matter what the prize is, I think I'd much rather enjoy winning a tournament than that,’ Trump said ahead of the event in Saudi Arabia.

‘If it was $10million I'd go all out for it. $1million is a lot of money, but it wouldn't really change my life at the moment. I'd enjoy the winning a lot more. Maybe there are some other players who will search for some more excitement more than me at the moment.

‘If it's $10million bonus I'll be smashing the balls up from the start trying to make it!’

The world number one did admit that it would be a memorable achievement to be the first to make a 167 and it would come with a lot of attention.

‘The first one is going to be special,’ he said. ‘You can't take anything away from someone who does it down the line, but that first one is always going to be remembered. It will be some history and create some serious headlines.’

Ronnie O’Sullivan sounds like he will be going for the historic break if he can, having practiced the unusual final shot to get from the black spot back to the baulk cushion where the golden ball starts the frame.

‘I've tried potting the black and going up to the baulk cushion to get the golden ball,’ said the Rocket. ‘I've practiced a few of them shots because obviously if you get the chance you want to give yourself a good chance of getting that last ball.’

O’Sullivan is not sure anyone will manage the tough ask, but does see someone getting close this week.

‘It's a big ask,’ he said. ‘Best-of-seven, three matches. I know John [Higgins] came close last year. I'm sure someone will have an opportunity to get it.

‘Big prize. $1m. No one's ever won a prize like that in snooker ever before.’

Former world champion Ken Doherty does fancy the chances of a 167 given the field featuring the top 10 players in the world, boasting immense quality.

‘If somebody wins that golden ball prize, that would be amazing, what a Christmas present that would be!’ Doherty told Metro.

‘The 147 always has a good chance, with the likes of Ronnie and Judd, the best players in the world they’ve always got a chance of the 147.

‘I think with the pot of gold waiting for them, once they’ve potted one or two reds and blacks it will be on their mind and they’ll go for it. Other tournaments they might not take it on but if there’s half a chance then they will, which makes it all the more interesting.’

Doherty memorably missed the final black when he was on a 147 in the 2000 Masters final and can only dream of how a player would deal with missing out on the whopping bonus.

‘Missing that for $1m, can you imagine!’ Doherty said. ‘It would make me feel better anyway.’