‘Very special moment!’ – Watch O’Sullivan create history with highest ever professional break of 153
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O’Sullivan made history on Friday with a break of 153 against Ryan Day in a thumping 5-0 win at the 2026 World Open, the highest ever in professional snooker.
O’Sullivan profited off a free ball black in the first frame of the clash against Day and proceeded to clear the table in emphatic fashion, taking him to 153, above the normal highest break total of 147.
It isn’t the first time a player has gone past a 147 break. Jamie Burnett held the previous record in professional snooker when he made a 148 against Leo Fernandez in UK Championship qualifying in 2004, but O’Sullivan has now smashed that record.
“A privilege to be here to watch that. To speak over it,” said former world No. 3 Neal Foulds on commentary for TNT Sports.
“That was an incredible moment for me just to watch O’Sullivan do what he did there. A break of 153, it’s almost like: ‘Did it really happen? Have I dreamt it?’ Incredible stuff.”
O’Sullivan has been in fine form at the World Open in Yushan, China, beating Matthew Selt and Shaun Murphy already.
‘Taken complete control’ – O’Sullivan rolls in another century against Day in third frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
And his historic achievement in his quarter-final against Day put him in a commanding position, something he converted into his victory – also adding breaks of 110, 103, 95, and 62 – over his Welsh opponent to reach the semi-finals in a match that lasted 56 minutes.
His 153 was aided by a free ball and included 14 blacks with two pinks, before he deposited all of the colours to end two points shy of the highest possible run of 155.Â
“He’s just playing as fluently as ever. He’s not overthinking any shot,” Foulds said as O’Sullivan potted his way round the table. “Wow, this is just mindblowing. A very, very special moment.”
The 50-year-old reached 153 with a delicate shot on the final black, but he confidently stroked it home to write his name into the record books.
O’Sullivan, who had previously made a record 17 breaks of 147, and Day shared a look of incredulity as O’Sullivan’s historic achievement sunk in.
“All the things he’s done, and he’s creating more history,” Dave Hendon added on commentary for TNT Sports.
O’Sullivan’s record break puts him in line for the £5,000 high break prize at the tournament.
The seven-time World Champion became only the second player in snooker history to make two maximum 147 breaks in a single match earlier this season, achieving the feat in his Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters semi-final with Chris Wakelin.
The World Open runs between March 16-22, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.