Ronnie O’Sullivan is the most decorated player in snooker history, but even “The Rocket” admits that trophies sometimes take a back seat — especially when a $1million prize is on the line.
Speaking after his second-round exit at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, O’Sullivan admitted he was far more interested in chasing the tournament’s groundbreaking 167 maximum break bonus than in lifting the trophy itself.
O’Sullivan was swept aside 4–0 by Shaun Murphy in a surprisingly flat performance, but despite the loss, he was candid about his real priority in Saudi Arabia: landing the world-record break that has sent the snooker world into a frenzy.
The Golden Ball and the Race for a 167
This year’s championship features a unique twist: a gold ball, worth an additional 20 points, placed on the table only after a player has compiled a traditional 147 maximum.
If potted, it takes the break to a never-before-seen 167 — and whoever achieves it will instantly earn a $1million payout, the largest single prize for a break in snooker history.
The rule has electrified the event and created a buzz unlike anything seen in recent years. For O’Sullivan, it was irresistible.
Asked whether he’d prefer winning the tournament or collecting the seven-figure bonus, the seven-time world champion didn’t hesitate.
“I think I’d rather get the big break, to be honest with you,” O’Sullivan said.
“I’ve won the tournament before… but to get the 167 would be amazing if anyone could do it.”
O’Sullivan doubted anyone will pull it off under the immense pressure and precision required — but he hopes to be proven wrong.
Stars Agree: The 167 Is the Real Prize
O’Sullivan wasn’t alone. Several of the game’s biggest names agreed that the 167 break, rather than the title, is the biggest prize in Riyadh.
Three-time world champion Mark Williams delivered the cheekiest take:
“I’d rather get a 167 in the first frame, pull out and go home!”
John Higgins, another multiple world champion, echoed the sentiment.
“I’d rather get the 167. It’s the equivalent of winning two or three tournaments, isn’t it?” Higgins said.
“You could actually do it in 12 minutes. To win the biggest prize in snooker — it would be crazy.”
Mark Allen was more measured, but no less tempted.
“Obviously you’re here to try and win the tournament,” Allen said.
“But it’s not often you get a chance to potentially change your life with one extra ball.”
Judd Trump the Lone Holdout
Only one major star disagreed: world No.1 Judd Trump, who insisted he would still rather walk away with the title.
“I’d still rather win the tournament,” Trump said.
“The feeling of winning and the confidence it gives going into the UK Championship — that’s more valuable to me at this point.”
Trump’s answer underscores the mentality that has made him one of the hottest players on the planet in recent seasons. For him, legacy outweighs novelty — even when novelty pays seven figures.
167 Prize Exceeds Tournament Purse
The $1million bonus is larger than the entire prize fund for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, a shocking reminder of just how massive the incentive is. For many players, particularly those outside the top ranks, the 167 would be a life-changing moment.
Even O’Sullivan, who has earned millions over his career, could not hide his fascination with the challenge.
A Tournament Within a Tournament
What Riyadh has created is something unprecedented: two competitions happening at once. There is the actual championship — and then there is the chase for immortality and a million-dollar payday.
O’Sullivan may be out of the running for the trophy, but the 167 dream remains alive for the rest of the field.
Whether anyone will actually pull it off is another matter entirely. But one thing is certain:
In Riyadh, the biggest victory might not be lifting the trophy — it might be potting one golden ball.
