Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Blistering Century Break Shocks Scottish Open – Inches from All-Time Record

Ronnie O’Sullivan, widely regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time, etched another remarkable moment into the sport’s history during the 2024 Scottish Open. In the first round against Bai Langning in Edinburgh on November 28, O’Sullivan delivered a dazzling 118 break in just three minutes and 24 seconds, marking one of the fastest century breaks in the 21st century.

Initially thought to have surpassed Tony Drago’s all-time record of three minutes and 31 seconds from the 1996 UK Championship, a subsequent video review by the World Snooker Tour recalibrated O’Sullivan’s effort to three minutes and 34 seconds—falling just three seconds short of Drago’s milestone. Despite the slight adjustment, O’Sullivan’s feat remains an extraordinary highlight of modern snooker, with his sheer speed and precision leaving fans and commentators in awe.

O’Sullivan, known for his fast-paced and attacking style, reflected on his performance with a characteristic mix of humility and candor. “I just felt like I needed to speed up a bit and try to enjoy it,” he said after completing a 4-0 whitewash victory over Langning in under an hour, with an average shot time of just 11.4 seconds. “Once the frame was won, I thought, ‘Let’s see if we can beat the fastest [century break].’ I knew Drago probably had it.”

The effort was reminiscent of O’Sullivan’s legendary 147 break at the 1997 World Championship, where he set the world record for the fastest maximum clearance in history. That iconic performance, against Mick Price, was initially mistimed at five minutes and 20 seconds before being officially recorded as five minutes and eight seconds.

Commentator Neal Foulds captured the excitement of the moment in Edinburgh, remarking, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a quicker century break in the history of the game than this.” O’Sullivan, ever the perfectionist, continues to set new benchmarks, solidifying his legacy as a snooker genius.