'Mick even made money off it' – Ronnie O'Sullivan exclusive on 25th anniversary of greatest 147 break in snooker history

He collected a whopping £147,000 for compiling the fourth 147 break in World Championship history in 1997, but it would not be outlandish to suggest Ronnie O'Sullivan has earned far, far more from that life-enriching, awe-inspiring maximum than he could ever have imagined. Studying the footage of failing to put a foot wrong on Monday 21 April 1997, even O'Sullivan – a record 38-time ranking event winner with six world titles, seven Masters, 15 competitive 147s and over 1150 centuries to his name – probably wonders how he reached the potting promised land in only his fifth year at the Crucible Theatre.

Ad/> On the 25th anniversary of snooker's greatest, and indisputably most iconic break, the 36 balls potted in those five minutes and eight minutes in Sheffield remain a rapid trajectory in time that transcends the ancient sport. World ChampionshipMaguire, Ding survive scares to qualify for World Championship18 HOURS AGO The 20th competitive 147 break of 175 (and counting after Graeme Dott's latest glorious effort) compiled since Steve Davis rolled in the first televised maximum against John Spencer at the 1982 Lada Classic remains the most electrifying few minutes known to man's imagination and green baize geometry.

«You know, it's mad when I look back on it,» commented O'Sullivan. «I look back on it and it was a great break, but it also tells me why up to that point I hadn't quite won the world title because it was just so fast, so instinctual that you can't keep doing that sort of stuff.

»I had to learn and develop as a player, but if you put it on your showreel, yeah it would definitely look quite good on there. Of all the things that I've achieved in snooker, that would have to be up there as one of the highlights of