RONNIE O’SULLIVAN will headline a shocking new snooker event.
The event will happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between March 4-7.
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O’Sullivan, who turned the oldest Masters winner by beating Ali Carter 10-7, might be joined by 2019 Snooker World Champion Judd Trump and present holder Luca Brecel within the event.
The occasion is a primary for Saudia Arabia, with the invitational occasion seeing eight of the world’s greatest gamers and two wildcards compete for a £787,000 ($1million) prize pool.
Whereas a lot of that is no totally different from any run-of-the-mil snooker competitors, with video games additionally set to be performed underneath World Snooker guidelines and laws, there’s a twist.
A brand new twenty third golden ball might be added to the sport value 20 factors – which means Ronnie and Co may shoot a most 167 break, reasonably than the standard 147.
A World Masters of Snooker assertion stated: “Every sport might be performed underneath World Snooker guidelines and laws however with the introduction of an modern new idea, a twenty third ball often called the Riyadh Season ball.
“This gold ball might be value 20 factors and might solely be potted as soon as all different balls have been efficiently cleared from the desk if a participant is on a most break to make it 167.”
Steve Dawson, Chairman of the World Snooker Tour, added: “It’s a nice privilege for the World Snooker Tour to work in partnership with HE Advisor Turki Alalshikh to stage an occasion in Saudi Arabia for the primary time.
“This can be a enormous breakthrough for snooker into new territory, and we see this as the start of a brand new journey for our sport within the area.
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“We’re trying ahead to being part of Riyadh Season on this improbable new occasion that includes the world’s greatest gamers.
“We might be honoured to convey our sport to the wonderful metropolis of Riyadh, and for the native followers this might be their first likelihood to see a few of snooker’s all-time greats.”
Following his Masters win at Alexandra Palace, 48-year-old O’Sullivan stated he could be taking a two-month break from snooker.
He stated: “I’m a bit played-out, to be sincere with you.
“I had such a powerful push September-October-November-December, I actually went onerous at each event.
“I have a look at the primary 4 months as the primary a part of my season. I put all the things into that and I did higher than I believed I might do.
“Subconsciously you suppose, I used to be fairly content material with that. It’s onerous to maintain motivating your self. It truly is. This sport is simply too onerous.
“I’m going to take two months off now. I’ll most likely simply play subsequent week as a result of it’s 32 gamers. I’ve earned my method to get in that event.
“However I’ll simply swerve all the opposite tournaments now. I really feel like I need a break.
“I’m trying ahead to getting on the exhibition circuit, begin enjoying extra exhibitions, I get pleasure from them, they’re a little bit of enjoyable.
“An excessive amount of intense snooker for me shouldn’t be good. I must again off and consolidate and get some enjoyable within the sport so the exhibitions might be good.
“I’ve obtained a busy March, Could, June, July so I don’t need to be fatigued going into that.
“I’ve had an incredible season, even when I’d simply received the Shanghai Masters I’ve had an incredible season. I took the UK and nicked this one as effectively so I’ve had a tremendous season.”
However earlier than that, the Rocket could face punishment as snooker chiefs examine his and Carter’s “snotgate” row after Carter, 44, accused O’Sullivan of “snotting everywhere in the ground”.