Riyadh Season Snooker Championship suspended as arena plunged into darkness with star on for $1million bonus
RIYADH SEASON Snooker Championship action was suspended after the arena plunged into darkness.
Zhang Anda was playing Ahmed Aseeri in Saudi Arabia when the lights continued to go out.
Farcical scenes on the opening day of the Saudi Invitational as the lights keep going off.#Snooker pic.twitter.com/Ndv6H8JXn0
— Talking Snooker (@TalkingSnooker) December 18, 2024
So the play was eventually suspended.
Snooker in Riyadh launched this year and a sensational $1MILLION (£780,000) bonus was announced for the first to make a 167.
And fans joked with Zhang on his way to doing so – organisers took matters into their own hands.
One said: “This lighting issue is ridiculous, feel sorry for Anda here, could really mess with his concentration as he is on the 147/167.”
Another added: “The lights have gone completely so they’ve taken a break.
“Unfortunately for Zhang Anda he was 72 points into a max and maybe the $1m 167 break.
“One of the maddest things in snooker history if he comes back and completes it.
One joked: “Snooker boys doing all they can in the back to stop Zhang taking home the mill!”
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Another said: “Complete shambles with the lighting.”
World Snooker Tour said in a statement: “There has been a slight delay in play in Riyadh due to technical issues at the venue.
“We will update in due course, and apologise for any inconvenience.”
