Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record-smashing 153 break ‘up there among special moments’

Ronnie O’Sullivan described his latest history-making snooker feat as one of the highlights of his career after compiling an unprecedented 153 break at the World Open in Yushan.

The 50-year-old achieved the total after leaving quarter-final opponent Ryan Day in a snooker at the start of the opening frame, and the Welshman’s failed attempt to get out of it handed O’Sullivan a free ball.

That allowed the seven-time world champion to commence his break with the green, followed by his opening black to put him on eight points before proceeding with a conventional clearance of 145.

O’Sullivan’s break eclipsed the previous record in a professional match, set by Jamie Burnett, who also made use of a free ball to make a break of 148 in a UK Championship qualifying match in 2004.

O’Sullivan told World Snooker Tour: “There’s a few in there that really mean a lot to me and are special moments. I’m sure that’s up there.

“I’ve never made anything more than a 147. For me it’s the excitement, the buzz. If the excitement and the buzz is there I can do great things. I need to think there’s a good reward at the end of it. Then you get focused (and) it sharpens the mind up a bit.”

Play in the match between Wu Yize and Mark Allen stopped as O’Sullivan concluded his historic break by rolling in a difficult black along the top cushion in the first frame of the match.

O’Sullivan went on to compile two further centuries plus a break of 95 to complete a 5-0 whitewash of Day and set up a semi-final against Wu, who made a measly 140 en route to beating the Antrim man 5-1.

But despite his stunning performance O’Sullivan, who has played sporadically in ranking events this season and is currently on course to be ranked a lowly 13th at next month’s