O'Sullivan Sets Highest Professional Snooker Break
Ronnie O'Sullivan has made snooker history by achieving the highest-ever professional break of 153 during the World Open in Yushan.
The seven-time world champion established this new record in the opening frame of his quarter-final match against Welsh player Ryan Day, contributing to a commanding 5-0 win.
At 50 years old, O'Sullivan began the frame by leaving Day snookered. Day's unsuccessful attempt to escape resulted in O'Sullivan being awarded a free ball.
O'Sullivan then potted the green ball as an additional red, followed by the black ball. He proceeded to pot 15 reds, 13 blacks, and two pinks, before clearing the final six colours, culminating in a break of 153.
This surpasses the previous highest professional break of 148, set by Scotland's Jamie Burnett during the UK Championship qualifiers in 2004.
"Just want to say a big shoutout to all the people who have been messaging me, congratulating me on the 153," O'Sullivan said in a video posted on X. "It was a pretty cool moment, really happy to do it. Thank you to everyone out there that has supported me."
Understanding the Breaks and Records
The maximum break in snooker is traditionally 147, achieved by potting all 15 reds with 15 blacks, followed by all six colours in sequence within a single frame.
However, the highest possible break is 155. This occurs when a player is awarded a free ball, pots the free ball as an extra red, then the black, and subsequently pots the 15 reds with blacks and all the colours.
"I could have tried to get the other black but I thought 'I don't think anyone's made a break above 147 on TV', so I thought I'd be the first," O'Sullivan explained. "I've been the first of many things so I thought I might as well get that one too. I feel blessed to be able to achieve these things."
O'Sullivan on Maintaining Passion and Focus
O'Sullivan also reflected on his motivation and excitement for the sport:
"I've never made anything more than a 147. For me it's the excitement, the buzz. If the excitement and the buzz is there I can do great things. I need to think there's a good reward at the end of it. Then you get focused, it sharpens the mind up a bit."
While a 155 break has never been accomplished in a professional tournament, World Snooker notes that "several players have made a 155 in practice matches."
Reactions and Upcoming Matches
Former world champion Neil Robertson commented on O'Sullivan's achievement during an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live:
"He's an absolute genius he really is. It gets branded a lot in sport and it annoys me when it is in other sports. But what he's been able to do there's no other British sportsman who could do this. We are very blessed to have him in our sport. And we need to try and enjoy him for as long as we can rather than pick out the flaws too much."
O'Sullivan will face China's Wu Yize in the semi-finals after Wu defeated Northern Ireland's Mark Allen with a 5-1 victory.
