WATCH: Ronnie O’Sullivan snubs 147 bid in Welsh Open win over ‘cheap’ maximum break prize
‘Rocket’ rejects the chance to finish a maximum break in his first round match because he felt the cash prize on offer was not enough
Ronnie O’Sullivan rejected the chance to finish a 147 maximum break in his Welsh Open first round match on Monday because he felt the £10,000 (HK$112,500) prize on offer was “too cheap”.
I knew it was 10 grand and I just thought that’s a bit too cheap really
O’Sullivan was on course for the maximum milestone in the final frame of his 4-1 win over Barry Pinches at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena after potting 13 reds and blacks.
But just as the five-time world champion looked set for the 14th maximum break of his career, he played a surprise positional shot onto the pink despite having made several audacious shots earlier in the break to return to the black.
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He duly cleared up for a 146 break and left the arena with a smile.
Asked about the incident afterwards, O’Sullivan told BBC Wales: “I could have got on the black and possibly made a 147.
“I knew it was 10 grand and I just thought that’s a bit too cheap really. To make a maxi, it’s such a massive achievement and if they’re going to pay us 10 grand, I think it’s worth a bit more than that.