Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Luca Brecel in final to land £250k jackpot
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN defeated Luca Brecel to win the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
The Rocket picked up £250,000 for winning the new event over in Saudi Arabia after his stunning 5-4 victory over the world champ Brecel.
The new Golden Ball would have been worth £400k but no player hit the bonus 167 in the tournament - and it has now been DOUBLED to $1million for next year.
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That's a wrap
So that's all we have from Riyadh as Ronnie O'Sullivan clinches the first World Masters of Snooker title.
A 5-2 win over Luca Brecel sealed the trophy for the seven-time world champion.
But he did fall short of making an inaugural 167 break and a £400,000 prize pot.
The reward for the feat will now be £800,000 next year.
Something O'Sullivan will manage in 2025?
O'Sullivan heading home with trophy
Ronnie O'Sullivan has shared a picture of him with the trophy as he flies home from Saudi Arabia today.
The Rocket, 48, sealed a 5-2 victory over Luca Brecel in the final of the Riyadh World Masters of Snooker.
And he is jetting back to England with the trophy as part of his luggage.
O'Sullivan receives bizarre honour
Ronnie O'Sullivan was handed an unorthodox gift after winning the World Masters of Snooker in Saudi Arabia.
The Rocket was handed £250,000 for winning the contest, but failed to land the £400,000 prize for potting a would-be world record 167 break with a new golden ball rule.
However, no one managed to seal the finish.
As a result, during the trophy presentation, Turki Al-Sheikh - the chair of the country's General Entertainment Authority - said the prize pot would be doubled to £800,000 for next years tournament.
It was then strangely announced O'Sullivan would have a snooker academy in Riyadh named after him.
O'Sullivan posts following victory
Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken to social media following his victory in Riyadh last night.
He tweeted: "What a night!!
"Thank you to the organisers @RiyadhSeason, to @Turki_alalshikh and also the amazing support and love I’ve received out here from all the fans. Shukran."
O'Sullivan aims death stare into crowd
Ronnie O'Sullivan aimed a death stare into the Saudi crowd as the referee begged spectators to respect snooker protocols in yesterday’s World Masters of Snooker final.
With the score 2-3 in his favour, O’Sullivan stopped dead still after hearing noise from the crowd.
The Rocket gazed intensely into the audience with a death stare.
And the commentator said: “Ronnie seems distracted by something in the crowd.”
This saw the referee then added: “Can you sit still please?”
The distraction clearly didn’t affect O’Sullivan too much as he romped to victory.
There's always next year
Ronnie O'Sullivan was in high spirits following his Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker victory last night.
And let's just say he didn't seem too disappointed about missing out on the Golden Ball.
"I'll get to the Golden Ball next year. You don't want to take it all at once. The tournament this year and the Golden Ball
next year," O'Sullivan said.
Good addition?
So it appears that 147s are SO 2023. We’re all about the 167 these days…
OK, it was a bit of a novelty and won't be replicated in any other tournament, but the money is very real and it did seem to add a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ to each frame.
Nobody ever really expects a 147 at a regular tournament but there was definitely an audible sigh of disappointment when it became clear you wouldn't be seeing a super maximum break.
Similar sighs are as follows;
- Someone requests a double when it’s your round
- You forgot to do the bins just as you get into bed
- Lee Dixon is co-commentating
Still, with Turki Alalshikh raising the reward to $1million (£790,000), I suspect we'll see a few more attempts next year.
The Ronnie O'Sullivan academy
This sort of got lost in all the excitement, but Turki Alalshikh revealed that talks would begin immediately to discuss the possibility of opening up a snooker academy in Saudi Arabia.
Alalshikh said: "We will discuss with Ronnie O'Sullivan having an academy in his name in Saudi Arabia."
That winning moment
"I never really say this…"
Is that so, Luca?
Luca Brecel looked understandably disappointed after his defeat, but he'll take great comfort in his £125,000 pay runner-up pay cheque and another crack at the $1million Golden Ball next year.
Providing he's in the Top 10, of course.
The Belgian Bullet said: "It's been a fantastic few days, I've really enjoyed playing. The venue is amazing and I never really say this - but the crowd has been fantastic.
"I'm very grateful to have played here."
Read the report from our man, Rob Maul
Ronnie O'Sullivan has banked more than £1million in prize money this season after winning the inaugural World Masters of Snooker in Saudi Arabia.
The Rocket, 48, produced a dazzling display with two centuries as he crushed reigning world champion Luca Brecel 5-2 in the final in Riyadh.
It represents his 79th professional title and for his efforts, he received a cheque for £250,000 by Saudi paymasters.
The champ
"Some sort of rave"
Ronnie O'Sullivan has spoken following his Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker victory.
And there shouldn't be any doubts on whether or not he'll be returning to Saudi Arabia in the future.
The crowds haven't exactly been packed… but that's not stopped him from likening the competition to a rave with the 'great atmosphere' and the music between frames.
Asked if he'll be back, Ronnie said: "Yeah, hopefully yeah.
"These are the tournament you really want to play. One table, great crowd, great atmosphere… the music was going off between the frames like we were in some sort of rave! It was like going back 25 years when I was young!
"Everyone wants to get to Saudi."
Laughs and smiles
And no wonder.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is grinning like a Cheshire Cat as the confetti comes down from the ceiling. He's posing for picture with all the dignitaries and shaking hands left, right and centre.
Plenty of selfies with the crowd and that trophy of his.
$1million
The Golden Ball was worth $500,000 in this year's inaugural competition, but Turki Alalshikh has just revealed that it'll be worth DOUBLE next year. That's $1million for a super maximum 167-break in 2025.
Turki Alalshikh: "Nobody got the Golden Ball in this competition. So, for the next competition we will double it for $1million."
Outrageous.
Ronnie!
Blimey, the crowd is loving this. "Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie," are the chants from the arena. Full quotes from Ronnie O'Sullivan and Luca Brecel coming up shortly.
The Rocket strolls to the table and receives the trophy from Turki Alalshikh, who gives a speech himself. And he's got some VERY interesting news...
Presentation
The presentation is now underway with Turki Alalshikh and Eddie Hearn set to hand Ronnie O'Sullivan the trophy after we have the interviews.
The Rocket wins
Snooker may have broken new ground, but it's still a familiar face at the top of the tree. Ronnie O'Sullivan, at the age of 48, has become the first winner of the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
He causally takes his seat and takes a sip of water. Vintage Ronnie. What else did you expect?!
O’Sullivan 5-2 Brecel
Ronnie O'Sullivan WINS the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, and he's finished with a fantastic century break!
That's his six century break at the competition, fifth title of the campaign and he takes home a colossal £250,000 for winning the tournament!
*O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
Ronnie just needs this pink to leave Luca Brecel needing snookers… get makes it. This is now a procession, folks. Can he leave the table with a sixth century break?
*O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
Ronnie O'Sullivan recovers from a few tricky positional errors and now has the table at his mercy. The 48-year-old is still at the top of his game - he might even be getting better. He moves to 41-0 in what will surely be the final frame.
*O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
This is a century opportunity if ever I've seen one. Will The Rocket wrap things up in style?
*O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
It's all got a bit cagey all of a sudden. Nothing much on and Luca Brecel is being forced to attempt a ridiculously difficult plant to get himself in.
He misses and the balls are spread open beautifully as Ronnie arrives at the table. This could be it, folks.
*O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
Turki Alalshikh has arrived to watch what could be the final frame of the evening. And Ronnie O'Sullivan welcomes him with a cracking opening pot from range but he follows that up with a yellow.
So, if Ronnie clears up from here, there will be no Golden Ball jackpot winner at the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
Boooooooooooooo!