Maximum break

A maximum break (also known as a maximum, a 147, or orally, a one‑four‑seven) is the highest possible break in snooker in normal circumstances[a] and is a special type of total clearance. A player compiles a maximum break by potting all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points, followed by all six colours for a further 27 points. Compiling a maximum break is regarded as a highly significant achievement in the game of snooker, and may be compared to a nine‑dart finish in darts, a hole‑in‑one in golf, or a 300 game in ten‑pin bowling.[3][4]

Joe Davis made the first officially recognised maximum break in a 1955 exhibition match in London. At the Classic in January 1982, Steve Davis achieved the first recognised maximum in professional competition, which was also the first in a televised match. The following year, Cliff Thorburn became the first player to make a maximum at the World Snooker Championship. As of August 2025, over 200 officially recognised maximum breaks have been made in professional tournament play.[5] Ronnie O'Sullivan holds the record for the most maximum breaks in professional competition, with 17, and also holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest competitive maximum break, which he made at the 1997 World Championship in a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds.[6][7] At the 2017 Championship League, Mark Davis became the first player to make two official maximums at the same event. In the 2025 World Snooker Championship qualifiers, Jackson Page became the first player to make two official maximums in the same match. In the 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters semi-finals, O'Sullivan became the first to make two official maximums in a one-session match or on the same day.[8]

Maximum breaks have become more frequent in professional snooker. Only eight recognised maximums were achieved in professional competition in the 1980s, but 26 occurred in the 1990s, 35 in the 2000s, and 86 in the 2010s. As of the 2025 English Open, 72 officially recognised professional maximums have been made thus far in the 2020s.[9] Since the 1980s, there have been various prizes awarded for maximum breaks. In addition to the 147 bonuses on offer at some tournaments, the World Snooker Tour since the 2023‍–‍24 season has offered a £147,000 prize to a player who makes two maximum breaks during a season's Triple Crown events as well as the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. This prize can be won up to three times per season, including multiple times by the same player.[10][11][12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Burnett_148_Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Burnett_148_BBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Kempf, Christopher (20 December 2024). "Stats analysis: nine-darter, 147 break or hole in one. what's harder?". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 31 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  4. ^ Hart, Becky (5 January 2025). "PDC world darts champion Luke Littler gives verdict on nine-dart finish in darts v 147 maximum snooker break debate". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference WPBSA_Official_List was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guinness_fastest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Tippett, Ben (27 April 2017). "The greatest break in snooker history was even better than anyone realized". Deadspin. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBC_2025.8.15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference WST_24_25_maximums was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference 147k_prize_2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference 147k_prize_saudi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference 147k_prize_25-26 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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