Friday at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship: Order of play, prize money, golden ball - when is the final?
It’s the final day of the big money invitational.
Established in 2024, when there were two tournaments in March and December, the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship will this year take place in November.
Despite not being a ranking tournament - and accusations of ‘sportswashing’ - the competition offers a bumper prize pot for those lucky enough to be invited.
The 12-man field is made up of 10 of the world’s top players, along with a couple of local wildcards who will relish their chance to take on their heroes.
Mark Allen is the defending champion while Ronnie O’Sullivan won the inaugural tournament.
Ronnie crashed out in the second round with a 4-0 whitewash against, while Allen has powered through to the semi-finals, beating Scotland’s John Higgins 4-2 yesterday.
And there’s the small matter of the $1,000,000 bonus for anybody who manages to pot the ‘Riyadh Season Ball’.
Here’s everything you need to know about the final day of play.
When is the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship?
The tournament takes place from Wednesday, November 19, to Friday, November 21.
Where is the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025 being played?
The venue is entertainment centre Boulevard City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What is the prize money at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025?
There is a total prize pot of £785,000, broken down as follows:
- Winner: £250,000
- Runner-up: £125,000
- Semi-finals: £75,000
- Quarter-finals: £50,000
- Round 2: £25,000
- Round 1: £5,000
There is also a bonus $1,000,000 for anybody who can make a 167 break by clearing the table then potting the Riyadh Season Ball.
How do you score an invite to the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship?
The 12 man field is made up of the defending champion (this year that’s Mark Allen) the World Champion (that’s Zhao Xintong), the eight other highest-ranked players in the snooker world rankings, and two local wildcard players.
Who is playing at the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship today?
Here’s what’s happening at the tournament today, Friday, November 21 - with both semi finals and the final being played in a packed day.
2pm session - semi finals
Mark Allen v Neil Robertson
Judd Trump v Zhao Xintong
7pm session - final
Mark Allen/Neil Robertson v Judd Trump/Zhao Xintong
What is the format of the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship?
All matches are played as the best of seven frames (first to four) except the final, which will be played as the best of nine frames (first to five).
What’s the Riyadh Season Ball?
The Riyadh Season Ball is a gold ball that is worth 20 ponts that can only be potted after a player has completed a 147 maximum break - meaning that a player can complete a break of 167.
It is placed in the middle of the baulk cushion, in line with the brown ball spot, and remains in play until it is no longer possible to complete a maximum break - at which point it is removed.
If a player accidentally pots or hits the gold ball his opponent is awarded four penalty points.
Any player who manages to pot the golden ball after a 147 maximum break will win $1 million. The feat has yet to be accomplished in the prvious two editions of the competition.
Who is favourite to win the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship?
The bookies have Judd Trump as the 15/8 favourite for the tournament, followed by Neil Robertson (5/2), Zhao Xintong (5/2), and Mark Allen (4/1).
Can I watch the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship opn television?
There will be live coverage of the International Open on TNT Sports which UK viewers can stream through Discovery+.
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