West Midlands-born Ronnie O'Sullivan makes world record snooker break at the World Open

Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan, who was born in Wordsley, conjured up a 16-red total clearance of 153 during the opening frame of his World Open quarter-final match with Ryan Day on Friday (March 20) in Yushan, China. 

This is only the second time in top-flight snooker history that a break of more than 147 has been produced. 

The only other occasion that this ultra-rare green baize feat had been seen was at the 2004 UK Championship qualifiers - unfortunately with no recorded footage, though - when Jamie Burnett struck a 148 break. 

It is possible to make a break of more than 147 in snooker with the use a freeball before any of the ‘normal’ 15 reds have been potted on the table. 

In O'Sullivan's instance, after opponent Day had fouled and left him unable to see both sides of any of the 15 reds, he nominated and potted the green as his freeball.

He then potted the black, so was on a break of 8 before any of the reds had been potted.

The record 41-time ranking event winner then sank 14 reds with 13 blacks - it was looking like he could compile the highest possible break in snooker altogether, a 155.

However, after depositing the 14th red, he elected to take a slightly easier pink rather than a very tricky black that had been pushed to the top cushion from the resulting cannon.

The 50-year-old Englishman then held his nerve, getting rid of the final red, with another pink, then clearing the six remaining colours - including a pressure black along the cushion for a moment of sporting history.

Widely regarded as snooker's greatest player of all time, O'Sullivan has made 17 maximum 147 breaks in professional play - more than anyone else. He also has more than 1,300 centuries - top of the tree in that break-building department, too.

Earlier this season at the Saudi Arabia Masters during his semi-final tie against Chris Wakelin, 'The Rocket' became the first cueist to craft two maximum 147 breaks during the same session of top tier play - a feat that earned him a bonus prize of £147,000.

At present, it is unsure whether O'Sullivan will receive any bonus prize for his extraordinary 153 feat in the Far East, although there is a £5,000 purse for the highest break made at the 2026 World Open.

After that mind-boggling display - perhaps even more remarkable given the fact it was in the opening frame - O'Sullivan had to focus on reaching only his second semi-final of the season.

And he did that with flying colours, too, constructing contributions of 62, 110 and 103 to go into the mid-session interval 4-0 up.

On resumption, he completed the clean sweep with a 95. Day was only allowed to score a total of 38 points throughout the entire match.

O'Sullivan will meet Wu Yize in a tasty semi-final clash on Saturday.

The Chinese youngster made breaks of 83, 140, 77, 109 and 53 in defeating Mark Allen, 5-1.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Open, visit here.