John Higgins missed his chance to become the first player to break the Golden Ball 167 seconds mark. A player at the World Masters of Snooker in Saudi Arabia can add his 20 points to his score after 147 by potting his ball extra.Higgins sank 15 reds and 15 blacks before losing position to a yellow.
0:01, UK, Tuesday 5th March 2024
John Higgins came agonizingly close to becoming the first player to hit 167 Golden Balls at the World Masters of Snooker in Saudi Arabia.
New tournament players will have the chance to turn the regulation maximum break of 147 into 167 and win a whopping £395,000 by potting the 20-point Golden Ball.
Additional balls placed on the balk cushion can only be potted after the last black has sunk and are removed from the table once a maximum break is no longer possible.
Higgins potted 15 men in red and black before losing position to a yellow during his second round match against fellow veteran Mark Williams.
The 48-year-old Scot overcame the disappointment to win the match 4-2, sealing victory at 2.30am Riyadh time.
This leaves him facing Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The tournament will feature the world's top 10 players and two local wildcards.
Could the Saudi event become snooker's fourth 'major'?
Mark Allen, who will face Mark Selby in the quarter-finals, claims the tournament in Saudi Arabia could become the sport's fourth 'major' after the World Championship, Masters and British Championships, according to World Snooker Be skeptical.
However, he feels it will help his game grow.
Allen said: BBC: “I don’t know about the fourth important thing.
“I think you can become a major player only when history is tied to the events of going to the same place for many years.I think that's what builds history.
“You can't just throw money at something and call it major, but it's going to be a big event for us. There's a lot of money involved and it's just another opportunity to expand into new geographies. do not have.
“We hope it will encourage countries like Dubai and Qatar to get involved, because it will be an exciting time for the sport.”
The heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office on Friday, March 8, with the main event scheduled to take place around 11pm. Book now!
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