Ronnie O’Sullivan, a legendary figure in snooker, has set a new record by achieving the highest break ever seen in a professional snooker match with a remarkable score of 153 against his opponent Ryan Day.
Competing in the World Open in Yushan, China, O’Sullivan has been in exceptional form this week. The former world No.1 defeated Matthew Selt and Shaun Murphy to secure a spot in the quarter-final against Day on Friday.
During the match, known as ‘The Rocket,’ O’Sullivan made history by surpassing Jamie Burnett’s previous record of 148 with his flawless performance in the opening frame against Day. The 50-year-old orchestrated a flawless 16-red clearance after receiving a free ball earlier in the frame, seizing the opportunity to clear the table with precision.
While on his impressive break, O’Sullivan seemed on track to achieve a perfect 155 total maximum, showcasing exceptional potting skills and staying consistently in control. Despite a minor deviation on one shot, causing him to settle for the pink instead of the black ball, O’Sullivan’s composure remained intact.
After potting the last red, O’Sullivan continued with his momentum, sinking the final six colors to reach a total of 146. Under immense pressure, he skillfully potted a challenging black ball positioned along the top cushion to ultimately achieve a record-breaking score of 153, much to the delight of spectators worldwide.
Although Day lost the frame, he demonstrated sportsmanship by applauding O’Sullivan for his remarkable achievement. Commentators, including Neal Foulds, were astonished by O’Sullivan’s feat, with Foulds describing it as “mind-blowing.”
O’Sullivan’s extraordinary accomplishment in breaking the highest professional break record previously held by Burnett, who scored 148 in 2004, marks a significant milestone in snooker history. Despite a disappointing start to the 2025/26 season, O’Sullivan now stands on the brink of securing a spot in the semi-final at the World Open, leading 4-0 against world No.36 Day in the ongoing match.