RONNIE O’SULLIVAN made snooker history this morning as he crafted the sport’s highest ever break.
The Rocket might be 50 years old and 34 years on since he turned professional, but he continues to produce incredible, breath-taking never-seen-before moments.
Ronnie O’Sullivan made snooker history with the highest ever breakCredit: Getty
And in his quarter-final clash with Ryan Day at the , the seven-time world champion hit a stunning 153.
The former world No1 had achieved a perfect 147 break a record 17 times previously.
This time, this contribution was aided by a free ball and included 14 blacks with two pinks, before he deposited all of the colours to end on the 153.
The Englishman was two points shy of the highest possible run of 155.
The only break ever to have exceeded 147 prior to this was a 148 made by Jamie Burnett in the 2004 UK Championship qualifying.
’s incredible run in the final overseas ranking event of the season eclipses that and he is set to earn the £5,000 high break prize.
Last August, the sport’s greatest cueist became only the second player in history to make two maximum 147 breaks in a single match.
He achieved that feat in his Snooker Masters semi-final with Chris Wakelin.
It emulated the feats of Welshman Jackson Page, who made two maximums in the penultimate round of 2025 World Championship qualifying, but failed to make the Crucible.
Viewers on TV would have seen 169 flash up on the scoreboard when he sunk the final black – that is because Day, 45, had given O’Sullivan 16 points through fouls before the epic break began.
Inside Ronnie's colourful career
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan
And the Rocket’s has also hit the headlines.
He has .
While the controversial cueist reckons he
Despite , O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of and.
His has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their
Check out all our
When it was all over, O’Sullivan was congratulated by Day and broke into a broad smile and then gave a thumbs up to the crowd who had witnessed the special moment.
Dave Hendon, the main snooker commentator, said: “He’s done it. Wow.
“What a break. From the genius Ronnie O’Sullivan, the highest break we have ever seen in professional snooker.
“A 153. Quite incredible. Well, we have seen some stuff down the years but that takes your breath away.”
Neal Foulds, the former world No3, said: “That is just mind blowing. I am absolutely so excited to have seen that.”
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
and share the record for the , with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 –
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 –
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 –
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 –
- 1991 –
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 –
- 1998 –
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 –
- 2001 –
- 2002 –
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 –
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 –
- 2015 –
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 –
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 –
- 2024 –
- 2025 –
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
