John Higgins misses out on his chance at snooker's first EVER 'golden ball' 167 break - and a £395,000 cheque - after drinks being served to the Saudi crowd distracted him on crucial shot from feet l Watch Video

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✓ Published: 05-Mar-2024

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Snooker star John Higgins agonizingly missed out on the £395,000 windfall for becoming the first player to compile a 167 break at the Riyadh Season World Masters.<br/><br/>Four-time world champion Higgins, 48, had potted 15 reds and 15 blacks during his second round match against Mark Williams.<br/><br/>That put him on course for the maximum break of 147 and, under the rules of this tournament, the chance at potting a golden ball worth 20 extra points.<br/><br/>But Higgins saw his hopes of a £395,000 prize disappear when he overhit his approach to the yellow, having been distracted by movement in the audience as he lined up the black beforehand.<br/>balk<br/>Eurosport footage showed people serving refreshments in the crowd in Saudi Arabia getting in Higgins' eye-line as he prepared to play a shot.<br/><br/>'Oh no, golf people are walking around in front of John's eye-line. That's the last thing he needs,' said Eurosport commentator Dominic Dale.<br/><br/>The gold ball is placed in the middle of the baulk cushion and can only be potted after the final black has been sunk.<br/><br/>When the possibility of a maximum break is over, the ball is removed from the table and placed on a cushion at the side of the arena.<br/><br/>Higgins admitted afterwards that he began to feel nervous as the break went on.<br/><br/>'I actually couldn't feel my feet, my arms and my legs. I walked past Mark and he said: \