Maximum break
The maximum break in snooker under normal circumstances is 147.[1] This is often known as a maximum, a 147, or verbally a one-four-seven, and is amassed by potting all fifteen reds with fifteen blacks for 120 points, followed by all six colours for a further 27 points.[1]
Joe Davis compiled the first officially recognised maximum break in a 1955 exhibition match in London. In 1982 Steve Davis achieved the first official maximum in professional competition, which was also the first televised one. The following year, Cliff Thorburn became the first player to make a maximum in the World Championship. In total, only 58 snooker players have achieved maximums in professional competitions, totaling 116 such breaks. Ronnie O'Sullivan holds the record of thirteen competitive maximum breaks and he also has the record for the fastest competitive maximum break at 5 minutes 20 seconds, set at the 1997 World Championship.
Maximum breaks have gradually become more commonplace in professional snooker. Only 8 maximums were achieved in the 1980s, but 26 were attained in the 1990s and 35 in the 2000s. Thus far in the 2010s, 46 maximums have been achieved. The landmark 100th official maximum break in professional competition was achieved by Mark Selby at the UK Championship on 7 December 2013.[2]
Breaks greater than 147 are possible in a free ball situation. This has been achieved only once in professional competition, when Jamie Burnett made a 148 break in the qualifying stages of the 2004 UK Championship.
Contents
Milestones
Joe Davis compiled the first officially recognised maximum break on Saturday 22 January 1955 in a match against 68-year-old fellow Englishman Willie Smith at Leicester Square Hall, London.[3] The Billiards Association and Control Council initially refused to accept the break since the match was not played under their rules. At the time the professionals played using a rule (now standard) whereby after a foul a player could compel the offender to play the next stroke. It was only at a meeting on 20 March 1957 that they recognised the break. Davis was presented with a certificate to commemorate the event.[4] The match between Davis and Smith was played as part of a series of events marking the closure of Leicester Square Hall. The hall, known as Thurston's Hall until 1947,[5] had hosted many important billiards and snooker matches since its opening in 1901, including 12 World Snooker Championship finals.[6] The final match was a snooker contest, played on level terms, between Joe and Fred Davis from 24 to 29 January but from 17 to 22 January Joe Davis played Willie Smith at both billiards and snooker. In the snooker match Smith received 28 points in each frame but, despite this handicap, Davis won the match by 23 frames to 13.[3]
The first official maximum break in professional competition was by Steve Davis in the 1982 Classic at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, against fellow Englishman John Spencer[7] winning a car for the achievement.[8] This was also the first televised maximum.[9] The following year, Canada's Cliff Thorburn became the first player to make a maximum at the World Championship, during in the fourth frame of his second round match against Welsh player Terry Griffiths.[10]
For the next 11 seasons, only 14 other official maximum breaks were scored. Starting with 1994/1995, a maximum break has been achieved every single season, with a peak of twelve maximums during the 2011/2012 season. The 100th officially recognised maximum break in professional competition was made on 7 December 2013 by Mark Selby in the 7th frame of his semi-final match at the UK Championship against Ricky Walden.[11] The maximum break has now been officially achieved 116 times in professional competition, half of which were achieved by English players.[12] England's Ronnie O'Sullivan has compiled thirteen ratified competitive maximum breaks, the most by any professional player.[13] Following him are Scotsmen Stephen Hendry and John Higgins with eleven, respectively seven maximums, and China's Ding Junhui with five. O'Sullivan also holds the record for the fastest competitive maximum break at 5 minutes 20 seconds, which he set at the 1997 World Championship.[14]
At least six players have missed the final black on 140: Robin Hull, Ken Doherty, Barry Pinches, Mark Selby,[15] Michael White[16] and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.[17]
Breaks above 147 are possible when an opponent fouls and leaves a free ball with all fifteen reds still remaining on the table. A break greater than 147 has happened only once in professional competition, when Scotland's Jamie Burnett made a 148 at the qualifying stage of the 2004 UK Championship.[18] England's Jamie Cope attained a break of 155, the highest possible break including a free ball, in a practice frame in 2005.[19][20] Alex Higgins was said to have attained the same feat.[21]
In other variants of snooker the value of the maximum break is different. In six-red snooker, the maximum is only 75 points, as there are fewer reds and thus fewer black-scoring opportunities. In snooker plus the maximum is 210 due to the additional, two high point-value colours, but this has never been achieved due to the distance between the highest value ball and the reds.[22]
Official list
TV | Televised | |
---|---|---|
(Q) | Qualifying rounds |
A total of 116 official maximum breaks have been achieved in professional competition by December 2015.[23][24][25]
No. | Date | Player | Age | Opponent | Event | Video |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 January 1982 | ![]() |
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ClassicTV | [video 1] |
2 | 23 April 1983 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 2] |
3 | 28 January 1984 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
MastersTV | [video 3] |
4 | 17 November 1987 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Championship | |
5 | 20 February 1988 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Matchroom League | |
6 | 24 September 1988 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
European Open (Q) | |
7 | 18 February 1989 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Scottish Professional Championship | |
8 | 8 March 1989 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Matchroom League | |
9 | 16 January 1991 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World Masters | |
10 | 5 June 1991 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Strachan Open (Q)[26] | |
[27] | 1125 February 1992 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
British OpenTV | [video 4] |
12 | 22 April 1992 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 5] |
13 | 9 May 1992 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Matchroom League | |
14 | 24 May 1992 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Matchroom League | |
[28] | 1514 November 1992 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Championship | |
[29] | 167 September 1994 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
British Open (Q) | |
17 | 27 April 1995 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 6] |
18 | 25 November 1995 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 7] |
19 | 5 January 1997 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Charity ChallengeTV | [video 8] |
20 | 21 April 1997 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 9] |
21 | 18 September 1997 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
China International | |
22 | 16 May 1998 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Premier LeagueTV | [video 10] |
23 | 10 August 1998 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Thailand Masters (Q) | |
24 | 13 August 1998 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
China International (Q) | |
25 | 13 January 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
British Open (Q) | |
26 | 29 January 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Welsh OpenTV | [video 11] |
27 | 4 February 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Tour – Event 3 | |
28 | 22 March 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Tour – Event 4 | |
29 | 6 April 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
British OpenTV | |
30 | 19 September 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
British OpenTV | [video 12] |
31 | 21 September 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Welsh Open (Q) | |
32 | 13 October 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Grand PrixTV | [video 13] |
33 | 4 November 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.[30] | ![]() |
Benson & Hedges Championship | |
34 | 22 November 1999 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 14] |
35 | 21 January 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Nations CupTV | [video 15] |
36 | 24 March 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Irish MastersTV | [video 16] |
37 | 28 March 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Scottish Open (Q) | |
38 | 5 April 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Scottish OpenTV | [video 17] |
39 | 25 October 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Scottish MastersTV | [video 18] |
40 | 7 November 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Benson & Hedges Championship | |
41 | 19 November 2000 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Championship | |
42 | 25 February 2001 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Malta Grand PrixTV | [video 19] |
43 | 17 October 2001 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
LG CupTV | [video 20] |
44 | 12 November 2001 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Benson & Hedges Championship | |
45 | 28 October 2002 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Benson & Hedges Championship | |
46 | 22 April 2003 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 21] |
47 | 12 October 2003 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
LG CupTV | [video 22] |
48 | 12 November 2003 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
British OpenTV | [video 23] |
49 | 4 October 2004 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Grand PrixTV | [video 24] |
50 | 17 November 2004 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Championship | |
51 | 20 April 2005 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 25] |
52 | 22 November 2005 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Masters Qualifying Event | |
53 | 14 March 2006 | ![]() |
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World Championship (Q) | |
54 | 23 October 2006 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Grand Prix | |
55 | 14 January 2007 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
MastersTV | [video 26] |
56 | 15 February 2007 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Welsh OpenTV | [video 27] |
57 | 19 September 2007 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Grand Prix (Q) | |
58 | 14 October 2007 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Grand Prix | |
59 | 8 November 2007 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Northern Ireland TrophyTV | [video 28] |
60 | 15 December 2007 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 29] |
61 | 29 March 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
China OpenTV | [video 30] |
62 | 28 April 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 31] |
63 | 29 April 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 32] |
64 | 2 October 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Shanghai MastersTV | [video 33] |
65 | 29 October 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Bahrain Championship (Q) | |
66 | 8 November 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Bahrain ChampionshipTV | |
67 | 16 December 2008 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 34] |
68 | 28 April 2009 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 35] |
69 | 5 June 2009 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Jiangsu ClassicTV | |
70 | 1 April 2010 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
China OpenTV | [video 36] |
71 | 25 June 2010 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – Event 1 | |
72 | 6 August 2010 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – Event 3 | |
73 | 20 September 2010 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World OpenTV (Q) | [video 37] |
74 | 22 October 2010 | ![]() |
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Rhein–Main Masters | |
75 | 23 October 2010 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Rhein–Main Masters | [video 38] |
76 | 19 November 2010 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Prague Classic | |
77 | 17 February 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Welsh OpenTV | [video 39] |
78 | 26 August 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Paul Hunter ClassicTV | [video 40] |
[31] | 7922 November 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
German Masters (Q) | |
[32] | 8027 November 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – Event 10 (Q) | |
[33] | 8129 November 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – Event 10 | |
[34] | 8215 December 2011 | ![]() |
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FFB Snooker Open | |
[34] | 8315 December 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
FFB Snooker Open | |
[35] | 8417 December 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – Event 11TV | [video 41] |
[36] | 8518 December 2011 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – Event 11 | |
[37] | 8614 January 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World Open (Q) | [video 42] |
[38] | 8711 April 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World Championship (Q) | [video 43] |
[39] | 8821 April 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
World ChampionshipTV | [video 44] |
[40] | 891 July 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Wuxi ClassicTV | [video 45] |
[41] | 9024 August 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Paul Hunter Classic | |
[42] | 9123 September 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Shanghai MastersTV | [video 46] |
[43] | 9216 November 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Bulgarian OpenTV | [video 47] |
[44] | 9321 November 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Championship (Q) | |
[45] | 9422 November 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK Championship (Q) | |
[46] | 955 December 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 48] |
[47] | 9614 December 2012 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Scottish Open | |
[48] | 9716 March 2013 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Players Tour Championship – FinalsTV | [video 49] |
[49] | 9828 May 2013 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Wuxi Classic (Q) | [video 50] |
[50] | 9915 November 2013 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Antwerp Open | |
100[11] | 7 December 2013 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 51] |
101[51] | 11 December 2013 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
German Masters (Q) | |
102[52] | 12 December 2013 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
German Masters (Q) | |
103[53] | 8 January 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Championship League | [video 52] |
104[54] | 9 February 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Gdynia Open | [video 53] |
105[55] | 2 March 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Welsh OpenTV | [video 54] |
106[56] | 22 August 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Paul Hunter Classic | |
107[57] | 23 October 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Haining Open | [video 55] |
108[58] | 23 November 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Ruhr OpenTV | [video 56] |
109[59] | 4 December 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 57] |
110[60] | 12 December 2014 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Lisbon Open | |
111[61] | 5 January 2015 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Championship League | [video 58] |
112[62] | 11 January 2015 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
MastersTV | [video 59] |
113[63] | 6 February 2015 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
German Masters | [video 60] |
114[64] | 10 February 2015 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
Championship League | [video 61] |
115[65] | 6 December 2015 | ![]() |
Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | ![]() |
UK ChampionshipTV | [video 62] |
116[12] | 11 December 2015 | ![]() |
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Gibraltar Open | [video 63] |
Statistics
|
|
|
|
TV | Televised | |
---|---|---|
(Q) | Qualifying rounds |
TV | Televised | |
---|---|---|
(Q) | Qualifying rounds | |
(D) | Deciding frame |
No. | Player | Tournament | Year | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|
[72] | 1![]() |
Charity Challenge | 1997 | FinalTV (D) |
[73] | 2![]() |
World Championship | 2005 | Last 32TV |
[74] | 3![]() |
UK Championship | 2007 | Semi-finalTV (D) |
[75] | 4![]() |
World Championship | 2008 | Last 16TV |
[76] | 5![]() |
Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Event 3 | 2010 | Last 32 |
[77] | 6![]() |
World Open | 2010 | Last 64TV (Q) |
[34] | 7![]() |
Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 12 | 2011 | Last 128 |
[35] | 8![]() |
Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 – Event 11 | 2011 | Last 128TV |
[44] | 9![]() |
UK Championship | 2012 | Last 80 (Q) |
10[54] | ![]() |
European Tour 2013/2014 – Event 8 | 2014 | Last 16 |
11[78] | ![]() |
Welsh Open | 2014 | FinalTV |
12[57] | ![]() |
Asian Tour 2014/2015 – Event 2 | 2014 | Last 32 |
13[59] | ![]() |
UK Championship | 2014 | Last 16TV |
Records
- Firsts
- The first known maximum break was made by Murt O'Donoghue at Griffith, New South Wales, Australia on 26 September 1934.[79][80]
- Joe Davis compiled the first officially ratified 147 against Willie Smith in an exhibition match on 22 January 1955 at Leicester Square Hall, London.[9][81]
- The first officially ratified maximum in competition was made by Rex Williams against Manuel Francisco in a match, Professionals v. Amateurs, on 23 December 1965 in Cape Town.[80][82]
- The first maximum compiled in professional competition was made by John Spencer on 13 January 1979 at the Holsten Lager Tournament against Cliff Thorburn, but it was not officially ratified due to oversized pockets.[79] His achievement also wasn't recorded, as the television-crew were away on a tea-break.[80][83]
- The first official maximum break in professional competition was made by Steve Davis in the 1982 Classic against Spencer.[79] This was also the first televised 147.[9]
- In 1983, Cliff Thorburn became the first player to make a maximum break at the World Championships, a feat that has since been repeated by Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry (three times), Ronnie O'Sullivan (three times), Mark Williams and Ali Carter.[39][84]
- Cliff Thorburn became March 1989 the first player to have made more than one competitive maximum break, while Stephen Hendry became in November 1995 the first player to have made more than one televised maximum break.[23][24]
- Mark Williams became the first person to compile an official maximum break against a woman, at the Rhein–Main Masters in October 2010.[23][24]
- In 2014, Shaun Murphy became the first player to make three maximums in a calendar year at the Ruhr Open, having made one at the Championship League in January and another at the Gdynia Open in February.[58]
- Multiple maximums
- More than one official maximum break has been made in the same event on thirteen occasions. However, the 2008 World Snooker Championship is the only event where both maximum breaks were televised,[85] and the 2012 FFB Snooker Open is the only WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) event where two maximums were made on the same day.[34] Three maximum breaks were compiled on 8 February 1998 during the Buckley's Bitter Challenge, by Matthew Stevens, Ryan Day and Tony Chappell.[86] The only time this has been achieved during a WPBSA event was at the 2012 UK Championship, when Andy Hicks and Jack Lisowski compiled one each in qualifying, and John Higgins compiled one at the last 16 of the televised stages.[70]
- There have been at least four matches where more than one maximum was compiled. Peter Ebdon compiled two maximum breaks during an 11-frame exhibition match at Eastbourne Police Club on 15 April 1996. In 2003 he also compiled two consecutive maximum breaks against Steve Davis in an exhibition match.[79][80] In 2009 Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan compiled consecutive maximum breaks at an exhibition match in Ireland.[87] Mark King and Joe Jogia achieved the same feat at the Grove Open later in the same year.[88] The only player known to compile more than two maximum breaks on a single occasion is Adrian Gunnell, who compiled three maximums in four frames at a club in Telford in 2003 while practising against Ian Duffy.[89][90]
- Higgins and O'Sullivan are the only players to record maximum breaks in consecutive ranking events. Higgins made one during his defeat by Mark Williams in the LG Cup final, and then one in his second round match at the British Open in 2003.[91][92] O'Sullivan made one at the Northern Ireland Trophy and another at the UK Championship in 2007.[74][93] Since top 16 players were seeded through to the second round at the 2003 British Open, Higgins' maximums also came in consecutive ranking matches, albeit not in the same tournament.
- Higgins' maximum breaks at the 2003 LG Cup and 2004 Grand Prix made him the first and only player to record maximums in the same tournament in successive years (the LG Cup being the sponsor's name for that year's Grand Prix). Since Higgins made the maximums in the 2003 final and the 2004 first round, he made maximums in successive rounds of the same tournament but not at the same event.[94]
- Final frames and matches
- Hendry, Mark Williams, O'Sullivan (on five occasions), Barry Hawkins, Matthew Stevens, Ding Junhui, Andy Hicks, Shaun Murphy and Ryan Day have all made maximums to win matches. Only two of these have come in final-frame deciders, however: Hendry's at the 1997 Charity Challenge and O'Sullivan's at the 2007 UK Championship. See #Match-winning maximum breaks for complete list.
- Only Hendry, John Higgins, Stuart Bingham, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson have made maximums in finals of tournaments. Hendry has made three: the first at the 1997 Charity Challenge,[72] the second at the 1999 British Open[95] and the third at the 2001 Malta Grand Prix;[96] Higgins has made two: the first at the 2003 LG Cup[91] and the second at the 2012 Shanghai Masters;[97] Bingham at the 2012 Wuxi Classic;[98] O'Sullivan at the 2014 Welsh Open;[78] Murphy at the 2014 Ruhr Open[58] and Robertson at the 2015 UK Championship. Robertson's maximum is the only one to be compiled in the final of a Triple Crown event.[65]
- Chronometrical
- O'Sullivan compiled the fastest maximum break in snooker, which took 5 minutes and 20 seconds recorded in the first round of the 1997 World Championship.[99][100] Michael White compiled the fastest maximum break in six-red snooker, it took 2 minutes and 28 seconds in the group stage of the 2009 Six-red World Championship.[99][101]
- The youngest player to make a 147 in any competition is Judd Trump at the Potters Under-16 Tournament at the age of 14 years and 206 days.[99] The youngest player to make an official 147 in professional competition is Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon at the 2010 Rhein–Main Master at the age of 16 years and 312 days.[99] The youngest player to have made a televised 147 is Ding Junhui at the age of 19 years and 7 months in the 2007 Masters.[102][103]
- The oldest player to make a maximum in professional competition is Stephen Hendry, who made his maximum break at the 2012 World Snooker Championship at the age of 43 years and 99 days.[citation needed]
Prize money
In professional tournaments there was usually a substantial prize awarded to any player achieving a 147 break. For example, Ronnie O'Sullivan's maximum at the 1997 World Championship earned him £165,000. Of this, £147,000 was for making the 147 break and £18,000 was for achieving the highest break of the tournament.[104] This was however abolished in the 2010/2011 season.
In the 2011/2012 season World Snooker introduced a roll-over system for the maximum break prize money, the "rolling 147 prize".[105] A maximum break is worth £5,000 in the televised stages and £500 in qualifying stages of major ranking events. There is a £500 prize in the Players Tour Championship events from the last 128 onwards.[106] If a maximum is not made then the prize rolls over to the next event until somebody wins it.[105]
Breaks exceeding 147
A break higher than 147 can be achieved when an opponent fouls and leaves the incoming player snookered on all 15 reds. The player can nominate one of the other colours as a red, known as a "free ball", which carries the same value as a red for just that shot. By potting the free ball followed by a colour, then the reds with colours and the colours up to the pink or black, the player can compile a break of more than 147. If the free ball is followed by a black, and the player goes on to clear the table taking all reds with blacks and then all six colours, the total score for the break is 155. In six-red snooker this is 83 and in snooker plus 221.
In October 2004, during qualifying for the UK Championship, Jamie Burnett became the first player to record a break of more than 147 in tournament play, when he scored 148 against Leo Fernandez. He took the brown as the free ball, then potted the brown again followed by the 15 reds with 12 blacks, two pinks and a blue, then the six colours.[18][79][107]
There are also at least eight breaks exceeding 147 that have been recorded in non-tournament settings:
- A 151 is reported to have been compiled by Wally West against Butch Rogers in West London's Hounslow Luciana snooker club during a club match in 1976. After Rogers fouled, West took the green as his free ball followed by the brown. He then took 14 reds and blacks and a pink off the last red. He then cleared up to make the 151.[79][108][109]
- In April 1988 Steve Duggan made a 148 in a practice frame against Mark Rowing in Doncaster.[79][110]
- In 1993 Stephen Hendry made a 148 in a practice match against Alfie Burden.[79]
- In 1995 Tony Drago made a 149 in practice against Nick Manning in West Norwood, London, that was recorded by the Guinness Book of Records as the highest in this category. In that match Drago nominated the brown as the free ball, to score one point. He then potted the brown again, for four more points, before potting the 15 reds with 13 blacks, a pink and a blue, then all the colours.[79][110]
- In 1997 Eddie Manning achieved a 149 break in a practice match against Kam Pandya at Willie Thorne's Snooker Club in Leicester. Like Drago he took brown, brown, 13 blacks, pink and blue.[79]
- In April 2003 Jamie Cope made a 151 break at The Reardon Snooker Club during a practice game with David Fomm-Ward. After a foul by his opponent, Cope was snookered behind the brown ball. He took the brown as the free ball and then potted the blue, 13 reds with blacks and two with pinks, then the six colours.[79]
- In the summer of 2005, Jamie Cope made snooker's first maximum 155 break in a witnessed practice frame.[111]
- In November 2010 Sam Harvey made a 151 break in a practice match against Kyren Wilson at his home club in Bedford. Harvey potted the brown as the free ball and then the black, 12 reds with blacks, two with pinks and one with blue, then the six colours.[79][112]
See also
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Look up maximum break in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Nine-dart finish in darts
- Perfect game in bowling
- Perfect game in baseball
- Golden set in tennis
References
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- ↑ Near-miss for Mark Selby in easy win over Mark King in China
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Videos
- ↑ Steve Davis, Classic, 1982 on YouTube
- ↑ Cliff Thorburn, World Championship, 1983 on YouTube
- ↑ Kirk Stevens, Masters, 1984 on YouTube
- ↑ James Wattana, British Open, 1992 on YouTube
- ↑ Jimmy White, World Championship 1992 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, World Championship, 1995 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, UK Championship, 1995 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, Charity Challenge, 1997 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, World Championship, 1997 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, Premier League, 1998 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, Welsh Open, 1999 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, British Open, 1999 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, Grand Prix, 1999 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, UK Championship, 1999 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, Nations Cup, 2000 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, Irish Masters, 2000 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, Scottish Open, 2000 on YouTube
- ↑ Marco Fu, Scottish Masters, 2000 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, Malta Grand Prix, 2001 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, LG Cup, 2001 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, World Championship, 2003 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, LG Cup, 2003 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, British Open, 2003 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, Grand Prix, 2004 on YouTube
- ↑ Mark Williams, World Championship, 2005 on YouTube
- ↑ Ding Junhui, Masters, 2007 on YouTube
- ↑ Andrew Higginson, Welsh Open, 2007 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, Northern Ireland Trophy, 2007 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, UK Championship, 2007 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Maguire, China Open, 2008 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, World Championship, 2008 on YouTube
- ↑ Ali Carter, World Championship, 2008 on YouTube
- ↑ Jamie Cope, Shanghai Masters, 2008 on YouTube
- ↑ Ding Junhui, UK Championship, 2008 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, World Championship, 2009 on YouTube
- ↑ Neil Robertson, China Open, 2010 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, World Open, 2010 on YouTube
- ↑ Mark Williams, Rhein-Main Masters, 2010 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, Welsh Open, 2011 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, Paul Hunter Classic, 2011 on YouTube
- ↑ Ding Junhui, PTC Event 1, 2011 on YouTube
- ↑ Marco Fu, World Open Qualifying, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ Robert Milkins, World Championship Qualifying, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ Stephen Hendry, World Championship, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ Stuart Bingham, Wuxi Classic, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, Shanghai Masters, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ Tom Ford, Bulgarian Open, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ John Higgins, UK Championship, 2012 on YouTube
- ↑ Ding Junhui, PTC Finals, 2013 on YouTube
- ↑ Neil Robertson, Wuxi Classic Qualifying, 2013 on YouTube
- ↑ Mark Selby, UK Championship, 2013 on YouTube
- ↑ Shaun Murphy, Championship League, 2014 on YouTube
- ↑ Shaun Murphy, Gdynia Open, 2014 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, Welsh Open, 2014 on YouTube
- ↑ Ryan Day, Haining Open, 2014 on YouTube
- ↑ Shaun Murphy, Ruhr Open, 2014 on YouTube
- ↑ Ronnie O'Sullivan, UK Championship, 2014 on YouTube
- ↑ Barry Hawkins, Championship League, 2015 on YouTube
- ↑ Marco Fu, Masters, 2015 on YouTube
- ↑ Judd Trump, German Masters, 2015 on YouTube
- ↑ David Gilbert, Championship League, 2015 on YouTube
- ↑ Neil Robertson, UK Championship, 2015 on YouTube
- ↑ Marco Fu, Gibraltar Open, 2015 on YouTube
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