“THE world’s top stars will head to Saudi Arabia for the lucrative Riyadh Season Snooker Championship THIS WEEK. The tournament is best known for the unique gold ball, which is worth 20 points and can only be potted at the end of a maximum break of 147. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you!”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
The tournament is best known for the unique gold ball, which is worth 20 points and can only be potted at the end of a maximum break of 147.
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Mark Allen won the last edition of the Riyadh Season Snooker ChampionshipCredit: Getty 
Ronnie O’Sullivan will feature in RiyadhCredit: Getty Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and world champion Zhao Xintong are among the huge names that will be looking to score the first-ever ‘super-maximum’ of 167.
A mammoth bonus prize worth $1million (£760k) will be awarded should a player achieve the unprecedented feat.
Last year, Mark Allen thrashed Luca Brecel 5-1 in the final to claim the crown and the £250,000 jackpot in Saudi Arabia.
SunSport brings you all the details ahead of the money-spinning Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.
When is the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025?
- The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 got underway on Wednesday, November 19.
- The tournament will run until Friday, November 21.
- Riyadh’s Globe Theatre in Boulevard City will host.
What TV channel is the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 on and can it be live streamed?
- The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and 2.
- The tournament will be live streamed on the discovery+ app/website.
- Alternatively, SunSport’s live blog of the event will bring you comprehensive coverage from Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 schedule Wednesday, November 19
From 2pm GMT
- Shaun Murphy 4-0 Ziyad Alqabbani – Round 1
- Ding Junhui 4-0 Ayman Alamri – Round 1
From 7pm GMT
- Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Shaun Murphy – Round 2
- John Higgins vs Ding Junhui – Round 2
Thursday, November 20
From 2pm GMT
- Kyren Wilson vs Neil Robertson – Quarter-finals
- Mark Allen vs Higgins/Ding/Alamri – Quarter-finals
From 7pm GMT
- Judd Trump vs Mark Williams – Quarter-finals
- Zhao Xintong vs O’Sullivan/Murphy/Alqabbani – Quarter-finals
Friday, November 21
From 2pm GMT
- Semi-final x2
From 7pm GMT
- Final
What are the rules around the ‘gold ball’? The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship organisers have confirmed that a 23rd ball will be available for players who are on a 147 maximum break.
It will be worth a staggering 20 points – which will take that specific player’s score up to 167 – which would set a world record.
The ball can only be potted once all other balls have been successfully cleared from the table.
Each frame will begin with the Gold Ball on the baulk cushion level with the brown spot.
If a player accidentally pots the Gold Ball early in the frame or hits it before hitting the object ball, it’s a four-point foul.
The Gold Ball stays on the table as long as it’s possible for a player to make a 147.
If a maximum is no longer possible, the Gold Ball is removed from the table by the referee until the next frame.
If a player makes a 147 he will then have the chance to pot the Gold Ball to score an extra 20 points and complete a unique break of 167.
Should a star complete the unprecedented feat, they will be awarded $1million (£760k), the largest bonus prize in snooker history.