Ronnie O’Sullivan makes snooker history with highest-ever break of 153 in China
Seven-time world champion, who obtained Hong Kong residency in 2024, achieves feat during 5-0 win over Ryan Day at World Open in Yushan
Ronnie O’Sullivan keeps breaking records in snooker – now, at age 50, he has 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. The highest possible break is 155.
The previous biggest break in competition was 148, made by Jamie Burnett in qualifying for the UK Championship in 2004.
The “maximum” break in snooker is 147 – 15 reds, 15 blacks and all the colours – 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, so can nominate another ball as a red before potting a colour and then starting his break as normal.
This is what happened to O’Sullivan, who followed a free ball and a black by potting 15 reds, 13 blacks and two pinks to reach the colours, which he cleared up under huge pressure with history on the line.