$1m Golden Ball in Saudi Arabia brings back memories of another uniquely tasty snooker prize when Ding Junhui dished up at UK Championship
Published 20/11/2025 at 11:26 GMT
Ding Junhui will soon celebrate the 20th anniversary of winning the UK Championship, a triumph that was worth its weight in gold to the talented teenager. It was a historic moment for 18-year-old Ding as he revelled in his second ranking title victory with a 10-6 success against Steve Davis, but the prize on offer for a 10-8 win over John Higgins four years later was also tasty in its own right.
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The $1m Golden Ball jackpot for making snooker's first 167 at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship is not the first time the sport has broken with tradition to offer unique riches.
Unlike the massive prize on offer in Saudi Arabia, worth a whopping £760,000 to the first player to achieve the 147 topped by potting a golden ball, the 2009 UK Championship found another substantial way to reward its champion beyond the usual trophy and cheque presentation.
Four years after securing his first UK title with a 10-6 win over six-time winner Steve Davis in York at the age of 18, Ding Junhui claimed his second at the sport's second-biggest ranking event with a 10-8 victory over John Higgins.
He earned a £100,000 first prize from sponsors Pukka Pies in a tasty tournament for the Chinese player.
After dishing up to defeat Higgins in Telford, 22-year-old Ding was also rewarded with his body weight in pies alongside his six-figure winner's cheque.
Weighing in at 69kgs, he picked up 276 Pukka Pies before promptly donating them to a Christmas charity in his adopted home city of Sheffield.
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Ding Junhui at the 2009 UK Championship.
Image credit: Getty Images
"We all wanted to win those pies and when we weighed up we all wore more clothes and I even wanted to put some balls in my pockets, but they were found," Ding told reporters.
"I have lived in Sheffield for the past few years and I love the city.
"The least I can do is try to help some of those less fortunate than me at Christmas by donating these pies.
"Hopefully, there are enough pies to stop people going hungry."
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Ding lifted a third UK title in 2019 with a 10-6 win over Stephen Maguire before losing 10-7 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2023 final.
Qualifying for the 49th UK Championship takes place between November 22-27 at Robin Park in Wigan before the main event is staged at the Barbican in York from November 29 to December 7, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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"This is the second-most important ranking tournament, so it is a great pleasure to win it," said Ding, after defeating Davis for his maiden UK victory.
World No. 8 Ding will chase a fourth UK crown after losing 4-0 to Higgins in the second round in Riyadh on Wednesday, but it remains to be seen if the 167 break will remain pie in the sky.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the UK Championship, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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