Beyond the Maximum: 50-Year-Old Ronnie O’Sullivan Makes Snooker History with Record-Breaking 153 Break at World Open
In a career defined by brilliance, Ronnie O’Sullivan reached a new pinnacle on March 20, 2026, during his World Open quarter-final clash in Yushan, China. The “Rocket” recorded a 153 break, the highest ever achieved in the history of professional snooker.
The Setup: The record-setting run began in the very first frame after O’Sullivan snookered opponent Ryan Day.
The Opportunity: Day failed to escape the snooker, resulting in a free ball for O’Sullivan.
The Execution: O’Sullivan utilized the free ball to pot the green followed by a black, securing 8 points before even touching a red.
The Clearance: He proceeded to pot 15 reds (accompanied by 13 blacks and two pinks) before clearing the remaining colors to reach the 153 total.
O’Sullivan’s 153 break eclipsed the previous professional record of 148 set by Jamie Burnett in 2004. While the “Rocket” holds the record for the most maximum 147 breaks at 17, this performance brought him within just two points of the theoretical maximum possible break of 155.
The historic break set the tone for a one-sided quarter-final. O’Sullivan maintained his momentum to secure a clinical 5-0 victory over the Welshman, storming into the semi-finals in Yushan.
Following the match, O’Sullivan took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the “pretty cool moment”. He expressed his gratitude to his global fanbase, stating, “Thank you to everyone out there who has supported me”.