Snooker 'golden ball' rule explained as Ronnie O'Sullivan and co look to bank £395k 💰🇸🇦

Snooker becomes the latest sport to head to Saudi Arabia this week and with it comes a new twist – the golden ball.

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[tonymountifield]

This didn’t explain the golden ball rule at all. Everyone was talking about the 167 break, but nothing was said about how it works for the rest of the frame.

[Mace]

The only gold I'm enjoying here is the level of comedy.

[ranbirsingh]

What an opening ceremony 😅😅😅 . I bet the players feel embarrassed walking into an empty arena 😳😳

[leep]

They are all thinking "this golden ball is an cheap gimmick which insults the game I've dedicated my life to" but the money dangling in front of their faces (and probably their players' contract) forces them to half-heartedly say things like "oh, it's part of history" "what a thrill" etc. Lost a lot of respect for all these.

[craigbennett]

I’ve heard if they attempt and miss the golden ball the that player get stoned to death live in the arena

[marvellis]

The end of proper snooker has arrived. Saudi finance has compromised the desire in sports.

[itnaklipse]

This whole thing is ridiculous. Empty sold out hall, stupid GOLDEN ball, short matches, short tournament, and everyone having to sound like it's fantastic and exciting... SAD!

[gddanielk]

20 points? Might as well be none, or 100, 000. It doesn’t matter if they’ve already won the frame 😭 just call it the cash ball if you want. Who thought 167 was such a great number

[cadancekela]

I had more people over at my house this weekend then the peps in the crowd

[grayssportsalmanac]

This just looks like more sportswashing to me. 🤮

[JonathanMLParker]

Why not put little windmills, and water hazards on the table as well? Money corrupts and ruins everything, what was a classy game played, by gentlemen, now looks cheap and tacky, used for sportswashing and greed.

[West.Ham]

The sportswashing continues with snooker.

[christopherwhite]

Disgraceful selling out to the sportswashing Saudis, mocking the actual procedures of the game in the process. Will not be watching

[pjl]

Just cant see Ronnie competing well in this one, the huge crowds are defo gonna trigger his stagefright.

[joegrand]

next season there will be an 'exploding ball' which is purple and inside is a very safe form of propellant which might or might not go off during the match

[LewisCollins-njht]

People saying this is a great idea. This has to be up there with the stupidest ideas any sport have come up with.

[cezaryg]

So let me get this straight: Snooker World Tour directors agreed to add an extra major tournament, change the rules of the game and make the best sportsmen in the world playing in an empty hall for a big prize money just for some sheikh to feel good about himself and to make the country look good. I don't know how about you guys but I find this sportswashing disgusting.

[ionutgrigore]

Or they could make it so that you have to make the golden ball jump off the table right into the ref’s rear hole and give it 22 points for a total of 169!

[gamevidsnstuff]

Why are they doing this in an empty arena?

[Spencerlayne]

The players have to pretend they care.