Many claim that a recording a maximum 147 break in snooker represents ultimate sporting perfection.
Whilst it's difficult to argue a case against that, did you know that it's actually possible to make an even bigger break than that.
With the 'Free Ball' rule, it's possible for a player to notch up a total break tallying 155 points - yes, that's right, 155 points!
Whilst nobody has ever achieved that feat - in competitive play at least - there have been occasions where the 147 threshold has been broken.
Scottish cueist Jamie Burnett was the first player to do so back in 2004, during the UK Championship qualification campaign.
Ranked number 49 at the time, the Glaswegian scored 148 unanswered points in his second round qualification clash with Leo Fernandez, taking advantage of a 'Free Ball' at the start of the frame, followed by a four point brown to instigate his then world record clearance.
Burnett followed those five points up by potting all 15 reds followed by 12 blacks, two pins and one blue, before dispatching of yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black to etch his name into the sport's history books.
It was an achievement that stood the test of time... until snooker's greatest player of all-time Ronnie O'Sullivan eclipsed that achievement with an even more impressive 153 break in China 22 years later!
Like Burnett, The Rocket conducted his break against Ryan Day in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Open by taking the 'Free Ball' brown as his opening pot, before sinking the black and then going on to dispatch of all 15 reds, followed by 13 blacks and two pinks, as well subsequently clearing up the six final colours.
"It was a pretty cool moment, really happy to do it," O'Sullivan said in a video posted on X shortly after making yet more snooker history.
"I could have tried to get the other black but I thought 'I don't think anyone's made a break above 147 on TV', so I thought I'd be the first.
"I've been the first of many things so I thought I might as well get that one too. I feel blessed to be able to achieve these things.
"Just want to say a big shoutout to all the people who have been messaging me, congratulating me on the 153.
"It was a pretty cool moment, really happy to do it. Thank you to everyone out there that has supported me."
What is the biggest break ever made in professional snooker?
- 153 points (Ronnie O'Sullivan - World Open, March 2026)
Has a player ever made a break of 155 in professional snooker?
Whilst it has never been accomplished in a professional tournament, World Snooker say "several players have made a 155 in practice matches".
