Snooker’s new $1million event with never-before-seen rule is a naff gimmick – leave our balls alone!

LEAVE OUR balls alone!

Snooker, invented by British army officers stationed in India in the 1870s, established its current-day rules and regulations more than a century ago.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan and Co are set to be invited to a bizarre new event[/caption]

Two players, two cues, six pockets, highest score wins, with TWENTY-TWO balls on the table – 15 reds, six colours and a white cue-ball.

It is a long, proud history and tradition that has remained universal and untouched as the sport has grown in popularity, particularly across Europe and the Far East.

Yet on March 4-6, a new concept will be introduced in the Saudi Arabian desert – the first 20-point ‘GOLD BALL’.

Nothing to do with that old Jasper Carrott Golden Balls daytime game show.

Nothing to do with an England and Manchester United football icon.

This, however, is a naff gimmick brought in to appease a Middle Eastern sports ministry as they belatedly add snooker to their growing collection of professional sports.

The World Snooker Tour have announced the staging of a new $1milllion (£789,000) 10-man invitational event, the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.

According to the promotional material, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and world champion Luca Brecel are all signed up – and who could blame them for chasing the petrol dollars?

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Also you cannot really blame Eddie Hearn, Barry Hearn and WST for going out there.

It is an inevitable, if not depressing, reflection of modern-day life that they would end up at the Kingdom at some point.

But changing a fundamental part of the sport simply to keep happy an oil-rich dictator? Lads, you’ve gone snooker loopy!

The Gold Ball will be known as the “Riyadh Season ball” and will remain on the table somewhere throughout a frame.

Should a player compile a 147 – which is such a special achievement – then this extra ball will come into play.

It means technically someone could celebrate a high break of 167.

At least when they bought up our favourite footballers for the Saudi Pro League the rules were still 11 versus 11.

At least when they bought up our best boxers, it was agreed to be under Queensbury Rules.

But adding a 23rd ball to proceedings? Devaluing the achievement of a 147? The sport is better than this.

Chairman Steve Dawson says this is “the beginning of a new adventure for our sport in the region” while Trump, probably with pound signs in his eyes, described it as “amazing for snooker”.

Ten baize stars – the top eight in the world rankings plus two wildcards – will come away with swag bags full of cash. What about the other 118 Tour players?

WST say a full ranking event is in the pipeline. It is likely to be scheduled for the 2024-25 season.

But Andrew Pagett, the world No.125, is not convinced, as he said in a now-deleted social media message.

‘MORE HOT AIR’

Pagett said: “WST have just sent us an email, yet again another invitational tournament! Nothing to do with anyone on the Tour bar the top eight!

“WST says that they look forward to inform us to other activities in the region for the wider WST membership next season. More hot air to keep us quiet.

“They can fine me as much as they want for this announcement.”

Then there are the obvious ethical and moral arguments.

Isn’t the hideous Gold Ball idea simply a symbol of sportswashing at its core?

Tinkering with the rulebook to allow a 167 so the Saudis can legitimately argue their event witnessed the highest break in history?

Human Rights campaigners are not convinced by the cheerleading, PR guff.

And Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK’s Economic Affairs Director, said: “It was just a matter of time before Saudi Arabia’s huge sportswashing machine sucked in snooker along with almost every other major world sport.

“For years, Saudi Arabia’s been trying to rebrand itself as a sport and entertainment hub to deflect attention from its absolutely terrible human rights record.

“Under the Crown Prince’s repressive rule, Saudi Arabia has locked up human rights defenders, executed hundreds of people and carried out a cover-up in the case of Jamal Khashoggi’s notorious murder.

“If the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump end up playing in Riyadh, they shouldn’t hesitate to speak out about human rights.”

Alamy

Judd Trump described the new event as ‘amazing’ for snooker[/caption]