What Is a 167 Break in Snooker? The Rare Break Explained
- Robin Alexander
- Dec 7
- 7 min read
In traditional snooker, the highest break you can make in a frame is 147. That’s what everyone calls a maximum break.
But in a new Saudi Arabian invitational event, there’s a twist: an extra 20-point Golden Ball on the table. If a player makes a 147 and then pots this golden ball, they achieve a 167 break in snooker – often called a “golden 167 super-maximum”.
And it’s not just for bragging rights: at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, a confirmed 167 with the Golden Ball comes with a $1 million bonus prize.
So if you’ve seen people asking “what is 167 snooker?” or talking about a golden ball, this is exactly what they’re referring to.
1. Where Did the Golden Ball 167 Idea Come From?
The Golden Ball first appeared in Saudi Arabia at a high-profile invitational event linked to the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, a non-ranking tournament held in Riyadh.
Key details about the event:
Tournament: Riyadh Season Snooker Championship (Saudi Arabia)
First staged: 2024
Format: Non-ranking, elite invitational with top pros and local wildcards
Innovation: Extra 20-point Golden Ball that makes a 167 break possible
The goal was simple:
Create extra drama on TV
Offer a huge bonus prize
Give snooker some headline-grabbing moments, especially in a new market like Saudi Arabia
Some people love the idea because it adds tension and a new kind of record to chase. Others think it’s a gimmick that interferes with the purity of the traditional 147.
2. The Exact Rules of the Golden Ball 167 Break
To understand the 167 break snooker golden ball format properly, you need to know exactly how the Golden Ball works.
2.1 What is the Golden Ball?
It’s a special 23rd ball on the table.
Colour: gold.
Value: 20 points.
2.2 Where is it placed?
The Golden Ball is:
Placed in the baulk area, typically on or near the baulk cushion close to the brown spot, depending on the event setup.
2.3 When can you pot it?
This is the crucial part:
You cannot just go for the Golden Ball whenever you like.
It only becomes legally available after you have made a full 147 maximum in the usual way:
15 reds with colours (normally black each time)
Then all six colours in order
Only after potting the final black of the 147 does the Golden Ball become “on”. Then:
You may attempt to pot the Golden Ball in any pocket.
If you pot it cleanly, you add 20 points to your 147 → 167 total.
2.4 What if you hit or pot it too early?
There are strict foul rules to protect the special status of the ball:
If a player hits or pots the Golden Ball before completing a maximum 147, it is treated as a foul.
Typically, it’s a four-point foul, and the Golden Ball is then re-spotted or handled according to the event’s foul rules.
2.5 When is the Golden Ball removed?
The Golden Ball is only on the table while a 147 is still theoretically possible. Once:
A player misses,
Or the layout makes a maximum impossible,
…the Golden Ball is removed from the table for the rest of that frame.
3. The Maths Behind a 167 Break in Snooker
In the Golden Ball format, the scoring is actually very simple:
Standard 147 maximum
+ 20 points for the Golden Ball
So:
147 + 20 = 167
That’s why it’s often referred to as a “167 golden break” or “167 super-maximum”.
This 167 is considered the new maximum break within that specific format. It does not change the traditional maximum in normal snooker (which remains 147).
4. Has Anyone Made a Golden Ball 167 Yet?
As of December 2025, no player has officially compiled a 167 Golden Ball break in a professional match at the Riyadh events, despite having multiple chances.
However, there have been some very close calls.
John Higgins’ Near-Miss
At the World Masters of Snooker in Saudi Arabia (linked to the same Golden Ball concept), John Higgins came very close to creating history. He:
Potted all 15 reds with 15 blacks,
Was on course for the traditional maximum,
But ran out of position on the yellow, losing the chance to complete the 147 and then go for the Golden Ball.
So even the 147 was missed by a tiny margin in that particular attempt, let alone the 167.
Practice Claims
Players like Shaun Murphy have joked or claimed in interviews that they’ve made multiple Golden Ball 167s in practice, but those are not official breaks and don’t go into the record books.
5. The $1 Million Bonus and Why Players Care So Much
This isn’t just a gimmick for TV. At the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, organisers have:
Offered a $1,000,000 bonus for each verified Golden Ball 167 break, on top of the normal prize money.
For context:
The winner’s prize for the tournament is already huge (around £250,000)
But the 167 bonus alone is several times that
Some players have even publicly said they’d rather make the 167 than win the event, because:
It would be a historic first
It proves incredible skill and composure
And obviously – $1 million is life-changing money
Top star Ronnie O’Sullivan has spoken about the Golden Ball and the big prize, calling it a massive test and a unique opportunity.
6. Why the 167 Golden Ball Format Is Controversial
The Golden Ball has split opinion in the snooker world.
6.1 Arguments in Favour
Supporters say:
It creates extra entertainment for TV and live crowds
It gives huge financial rewards to players
It adds a new record to chase – the first ever 167
It helps promote snooker globally, especially in new markets like Saudi Arabia
Players like Shaun Murphy have encouraged traditionalists to at least give the idea a chance.
6.2 Arguments Against
Critics argue:
It’s a gimmick that interferes with the classic purity of snooker
It’s part of a wider criticism of Saudi sportswashing, where huge money is used to buy sporting events and polish the country's image
Records like “maximum break” become confusing when every event has different rules
For many fans, the 147 will always be the “real” maximum, and the 167 will be seen as a special, tournament-specific record.
7. How Hard Is It to Make a Golden 167?
Let’s be realistic: achieving a 167 break in snooker with the Golden Ball is incredibly difficult.
A player must:
Get in with a good opening chance.
Compile a textbook 147 maximum – already extremely rare at pro level.
Keep perfect position and nerve right up to the final black.
Then switch focus to potting a single, high-pressure, 20-point Golden Ball, knowing that:
Millions are watching
A $1 million bonus is on the line
It would be the first time in history
Even the best players in the world, like John Higgins, have shown how hard it is to even stay on for a 147 in this event, never mind complete the entire 167.
8. 167 vs 147: What’s the Difference in Meaning?
147 break (traditional):
Maximum under standard, official snooker rules
Counts for all ranking and most non-ranking events
Recognised worldwide historically
167 Golden Ball break:
Maximum only in tournaments that use the Golden Ball format
Not part of the rules of classic, ranking snooker
Seen as a “super-maximum” or novelty record for that specific event
So when someone asks “what is 167 snooker?”, the short answer is:
It’s a special maximum break that includes potting a 20-point Golden Ball after making a 147, in certain Saudi-based invitational events.
9. Will We See More Golden Ball Events in the Future?
The Golden Ball and 167 break snooker concept has already attracted:
Huge media coverage
Big sponsorship and prize money
Strong TV distribution via platforms like TNT Sports, Discovery+ and DAZN
If a top player eventually makes the first official 167, it will likely:
Go viral on social media
Encourage organisers to repeat or expand the format
Possibly inspire other experimental formats around the world
On the other hand, if traditionalist pressure remains strong and fans don’t fully warm to the gimmick, the Golden Ball might remain a short-lived experiment tied only to a few events.
FAQ: Golden Ball 167 Break in Snooker
1. What exactly is a 167 break in snooker?
A 167 break in snooker is a “super-maximum” made in special events that use a Golden Ball. The player:
Makes a standard 147 maximum
Then pots a 20-point Golden Ball
Final total: 167 points in a single visit
It does not exist in normal ranking tournaments that don’t use the Golden Ball.
2. What is the Golden Ball in snooker?
The Golden Ball is:
An extra ball worth 20 points
Placed in the baulk area
Only available after a player has made a 147
Potting it after the 147 creates a 167 break
If it’s contacted or potted too early, it’s a foul, and the ball isn’t part of normal scoring.
3. Has anyone made a Golden Ball 167 yet?
As of December 2025, no one has made an official Golden Ball 167 in a professional match, even though multiple attempts have come close.
John Higgins, for example, was on course but ran out of position and missed the chance.
4. How much money do you get for a 167 Golden Ball break?
At the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, the bonus is:
$1 million (about £760,000) for each official 167 Golden Ball break, on top of normal prize money.
5. Is a 167 break recognised as a “real” maximum in snooker?
It’s recognised as a maximum for that specific Golden Ball format, but:
The traditional maximum under standard rules is still 147.
Official ranking event records still treat 147 as the classic maximum.
So yes, it’s “real” within that tournament, but it doesn’t replace 147 in the sport’s core history.
6. Where can I watch Golden Ball 167 snooker events?
Events using the Golden Ball, like the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, have been broadcast on:
TNT Sports / Discovery+ (in some regions)
DAZN and other streaming partners globally
Check local listings or streaming services around November, when recent editions have been scheduled.
7. People search “waht is 167 snooker” – what does it mean?
That’s just a common typo for “what is 167 snooker”. It refers to the Golden Ball 167 super-maximum, where a player scores 147 plus the 20-point Golden Ball in a Saudi event.
Author Bio:
Dr. Robin Alexander is an MD Pathologist, passionate guitar enthusiast, and lifelong snooker fan. He combines medical precision with a love for music and sport. Connect with him on LinkedIn.