Recording a 147 break is regarded as one of the most difficult feats in snooker, with the ability to hit this perfect score requiring a great deal of skill, poise and focus. To achieve a 147 break, a player must consistently pot all 15 red balls followed by the black then the coloured balls in the specific order of yellow, green, brown, blue and pink before finishing with the black again.
Such play is so remarkable, the chances of a 147 in snooker is around 500/1 and so when a player achieves the peak break, it’s headline news. However, is it actually becoming more common in modern sport? This article will delve into the statistics to explore whether players today are recording more 147 breaks than before.
Looking at the Numbers
It has been 42 years since Steve Davis recorded the first 147 in professional competition back in 1982 and since then, it has been repeated 201 times. However, it has clearly become a more common event throughout each decade since.
While there were only eight 147 breaks in the 1980s and 26 in the 1990s, the tally went up again at the turn of the century with 35 recorded in the 2000s. The figure then increased even further throughout the 2010s with 86 perfect breaks recorded and now in the 2020s, 47 have been made with six years of the decade remaining.
Which Player has Recorded the Most 147 Breaks?
Ronnie O’Sullivan leads the way for the most 147 breaks in snooker history, having achieved the total a staggering 15 times. John Higgins is second on the list with 13 while fellow Scot Stephen Hendry has 11 to his name. Stuart Bingham with nine, Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump with eight each and Ding Junhui on seven make up the top seven on the list.
At the Crucible where the World Championship is held every year and the stakes are high, O’Sullivan and Hendry reign supreme with three 147 breaks each. Rocket Ronnie’s first, recorded at the 1997 showpiece, was the quickest ever as he hit 147 in just 5 minutes and eight seconds.
Summing Up
So, what has seen the rise in 147 breaks achieved in professional snooker competition? Well, it is fair to say that the quality of play has improved over time with standards increasing year on year. In the first four months of 2024, already eight 147 breaks have been recorded. With faster tables and professionals afforded more time than ever before to hone their craft, this incredible feat is becoming more common, much to the delight of fans who love to watch the best snooker players in the world dazzle on the big stage.