Ronnie O’Sullivan Stuns with Two 147s in One Night to Rewrite Snooker History
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan delivered a dazzling display of brilliance and precision as he compiled two 147 maximum breaks in his 6-3 semi-final win over Chris Wakelin at the Saudi Arabia Masters. The seven-time world champion not only booked his place in Saturday’s final against Neil Robertson but also etched his name in the history books as the oldest player to achieve a maximum break in professional competition — at 49 years and 253 days.
O’Sullivan wasted no time in setting the tone for the evening, producing a flawless 147 in the opening frame — his first competitive maximum in seven years. Demonstrating masterful cue-ball control, ‘The Rocket’ repeated the extraordinary feat in the seventh frame, once again potting 15 reds and 15 blacks followed by the colours for his 17th career maximum. His incredible achievement was met with widespread acclaim, including praise from his opponent Wakelin, who hailed him on social media as “the greatest player of all time” and described the performance as “special.”
This semi-final performance not only reaffirmed O’Sullivan’s status at the pinnacle of the sport but also earned him a £147,000 bonus for making two 147s across snooker’s four major events — the UK Championship, Masters, World Championship, and Saudi Arabia Masters. The last time O’Sullivan recorded a competitive maximum was at the 2018 English Open.
Remarkably, O’Sullivan becomes only the second player in history to compile two maximums in the same match, following Welshman Jackson Page’s similar feat during World Championship qualifying earlier this year.
Alongside his two 147s, O’Sullivan also crafted superb breaks of 142, 70, 67, and 134, showcasing an imperious all-round performance. Wakelin briefly threatened with a 125 break to level the match at 3-3, but O’Sullivan raised his game yet again to seal the victory.
In the day’s earlier semi-final, Australia’s Neil Robertson overcame Elliot Slessor 6-3 to reach the 39th ranking final of his career. Although neither player hit top form, Robertson’s experience and tactical play proved decisive. With breaks of 93 and 50, the 2010 world champion remained in control throughout, later reflecting on the importance of his resurgence in maintaining a strong ranking position.
The stage is now set for a highly anticipated final between two giants of the modern game — O’Sullivan and Robertson — as the Saudi Arabia Masters draws to a thrilling close.
