Ronnie O’Sullivan keeps breaking records in snooker 鈥� now, at age 50, he’s made the highest-ever break in the history of the professional game.
The seven-time world champion cleared the table for a break of 153 in the first frame of his 5-0 win over Ryan Day at the World Open in China on Friday.
The previous biggest break in competition was 148, made by Jamie Burnett in qualifying for the UK Championship in 2004.
鈥淚 feel blessed to be able to achieve these things,鈥� said O’Sullivan, who is widely regarded as the greatest-ever snooker player.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure long past when I鈥檓 not here, there鈥檒l still be people going, 鈥楾hat was pretty cool what that guy鈥檚 done鈥�.鈥�
The classic 鈥渕aximum鈥� break in snooker is 147 鈥� 15 reds, 15 blacks and all the colors 鈥� but a player can score more if he starts it with a free ball. That happens when a player is snookered on all the reds following a foul by the opponent, and can nominate another ball as a red before potting a color and then starting his break as normal.
It means it is technically possible to make a break of 155.
O’Sullivan followed a free ball and a black by potting 15 reds, 13 blacks and two pinks to reach the colors, which he cleared up under huge pressure with history on the line. He as he shook hands with Day, and appeared confused as he looked at the scoreboard.
鈥淚 was just thinking about trying to win the frame, you know,鈥� O’Sullivan said, 鈥渁nd then it got to a certain point and I did realize and I was like, 鈥業t seems there鈥檚 too many balls on the table so something’s not quite right.’鈥�
O’Sullivan already has a long list of records
O’Sullivan is tied for the record of most world championships with Stephen Hendry, has the most major titles (23), the most ranking titles (41), the most century breaks (more than 1,300) and the most 147s (17), including the quickest in a remarkable 5 minutes, 8 seconds at the world championship in 1997.
Already this season, O’Sullivan, who only plays sporadically on the circuit in the latter years of his career, became the first player to make two 147s in one match 鈥� in the semifinals of the Saudi Arabia Masters last year.
鈥淚鈥檝e been the first to do many things,鈥� he said of his latest feat, 鈥渟o I thought I鈥檇 get that one as well.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 the excitement and the buzz. If the excitement and the buzz is there, I can do great things. If not, I don鈥檛 get excited by it.鈥�
Australian snooker player Neil Robertson, a former world champion, praised O’Sullivan.
鈥淭he best ever and the best there ever will be,鈥� Robertson posted on X. 鈥淪nooker fans I hope you鈥檝e cherished him over the years in the joy he鈥檚 brought to millions over 4 decades.鈥�
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