Ronnie O’Sullivan is eyeing a “hefty prize” for breaking 167 snooker records in Saudi Arabia with a golden ball.

The first-ever Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, scheduled for March, could feature the world’s first-ever 167 break, which Ronnie O’Sullivan is eyeing as a “hefty prize.” The tournament will feature the debut of the 23rd golden ball, dubbed the Riyadh Season ball, which will be worth 20 points and can only be potted once a maximum break of 147 has been completed. While some snooker purists are offended by the idea, the Rocket is intrigued by the prospect of hitting a 167 break as snooker becomes the latest sport to be lured to the Middle East.

What does a 167 get you? Have they made the announcement? After winning the Masters and World Grand Prix championships in recent weeks, O’Sullivan, who will travel to the Middle East as the clear favorite, stated, “I’m sure that it will be a hefty prize.”

The 48-year-old, who has frequently expressed how much he enjoys playing in China, has no reservations about competing in Saudi Arabia despite the nation’s terrible reputation on human rights and charges of sportsmanship.

He remarked, “Listen, the Saudis are free to do as they please.” They are a formidable group. It will be fantastic to visit Saudi Arabia as every other sport appears to be active there.

Another player who has encouraged snooker fans to give the competition a go is Shaun Murphy. “You should never criticize something unless you’ve tried it,” stated the 2005 world champion. Simply put, it’s unusual, and this isn’t the first time the sport has experimented with novel concepts.