Ronnie O’Sullivan, a legendary figure in snooker, recently made history by achieving the highest break ever recorded in a professional snooker match. During his participation in the World Open in Yushan, China, O’Sullivan showcased exceptional form, defeating Matthew Selt and Shaun Murphy to secure a spot in the quarter-finals against Ryan Day.
Dubbed ‘The Rocket,’ O’Sullivan set a new record by scoring a remarkable 153 break in the opening frame against Day, surpassing the previous record of 148 held by Jamie Burnett. The 50-year-old executed a flawless 16-red clearance after receiving a free ball, demonstrating his skill by clearing the table with precision.
Although O’Sullivan had a chance at a maximum break of 155, he narrowly missed a shot, settling for a pink ball instead of aiming for the black. Nonetheless, he continued his impressive run, potting the final six colors to reach 146 and eventually achieving the historic 153 break.
Despite losing the frame, Day graciously acknowledged O’Sullivan’s remarkable feat by applauding him, while commentator Neal Foulds expressed astonishment at the achievement. O’Sullivan’s record-breaking performance surpasses Burnett’s previous high break of 148 set in 2004.
O’Sullivan’s exceptional performance in the 2025/26 season, particularly his record-breaking achievement at the World Open, marks a significant turnaround after a relatively disappointing start to the season. Leading 4-0 against world No.36 Day, O’Sullivan is on track to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament.