Ronnie O’Sullivan showcased his exceptional skills by achieving a remarkable 147 break at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, causing his opponent Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to miss out on a significant bonus. In an impressive display of talent, O’Sullivan went on to achieve a second maximum break in the same match.
The tournament offers a £50,000 prize for a maximum break, which Un-Nooh was set to claim before O’Sullivan’s exceptional performance. With two maximum breaks under his belt, O’Sullivan is now in line to receive two-thirds of the prize money.
Following his victory over Chris Wakelin in Jeddah, O’Sullivan not only secured a place in the final by defeating Wakelin 6-3 but also earned an additional £147,000 bonus, boosting his total earnings to over £180,000.
During TNT Sports’ coverage of the tournament, Steven Hallworth praised O’Sullivan, stating, “You say the name and he is snooker. This is why we love him. What a player.”
O’Sullivan’s final opponent will be Neil Robertson, who also secured a 6-3 victory against Elliot Slessor. This achievement marked the first time O’Sullivan had achieved a competitive 147 break since 2018, setting a new record as the oldest player to achieve this feat.
The introduction of a £147,000 bonus for making two maximum breaks during the 2025-26 season across select tournaments was an added incentive. However, O’Sullivan managed to claim the prize in just one tournament, highlighting his exceptional skill.
O’Sullivan had previously expressed reservations about the smaller prizes awarded for maximum breaks but had no complaints about the substantial six-figure sum he received for his extraordinary performance in Saudi Arabia.
Both O’Sullivan and Robertson will have the opportunity to enhance their financial rewards in the final, with the winner set to receive a substantial £500,000 payout, while the runner-up will walk away with £200,000.
Sky has announced a reduced price for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering significant savings and over 1,400 live matches across various leagues. Additionally, Sky will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 matches compared to previous seasons.