Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a sensational display of snooker brilliance as he made two 147 maximum breaks during his 6-3 victory over Chris Wakelin in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters. The achievement makes him the oldest player in history to complete a maximum break in competition at 49 years and 253 days.
The seven-time world champion set the tone from the very first frame, compiling his 16th career 147 with supreme cue-ball control in what was his first maximum in competition since 2018. O’Sullivan, who had not recorded a 147 for seven years, repeated the feat in the seventh frame, once again clearing the table in style. He was warmly applauded by the Jeddah crowd and even by his opponent, who later called him the “greatest player of all time” on social media.
“It’s probably the best I’ve ever played in a match,” O’Sullivan told World Snooker Tour afterwards. “You’ve got to be cueing well, playing well and have your mind right. I felt I had to really focus against Kyren Wilson in the last eight, and I wanted to bring that same attitude into tonight.”
The Englishman’s performance also included additional breaks of 142, 70, 67 and 134. Wakelin responded with a 125 to draw level at 3-3, but O’Sullivan surged away to seal his place in Saturday’s final against Neil Robertson.
O’Sullivan becomes only the second player ever to compile two maximum breaks in a single match, after Jackson Page achieved the feat earlier this year in World Championship qualifying. His tally of 17 career 147s now puts him four clear of fellow great John Higgins from the famous ‘Class of 92’.
In addition to securing his spot in the final, O’Sullivan earned a £147,000 bonus for achieving two maximums at an event classified alongside snooker’s three Triple Crown tournaments. He will also share in a £50,000 147 season bonus, alongside Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who made the season’s third maximum earlier this week.
Earlier on Friday, Neil Robertson secured his place in the final with a 6-3 win over Elliot Slessor. While neither player was at his fluent best, the Australian’s experience told, with breaks of 93 and 50 helping him reach the 39th ranking final of his career.
The final between O’Sullivan and Robertson promises to be a blockbuster, with the two modern greats of the game meeting for the Saudi Arabia Masters title.