Ronnie O’Sullivan displayed his exceptional skills at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters by achieving a remarkable 147 break, depriving his opponent, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, of a significant bonus. Impressively, 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 on track to win before O’Sullivan’s stellar performance. With his two maximum breaks, O’Sullivan is now in line to claim two-thirds of the prize money.
Not stopping there, O’Sullivan secured an additional £147,000 bonus by achieving another 147 break during his victory over Chris Wakelin in Jeddah, increasing his total earnings to over £180,000.
During TNT Sports’ coverage of the event, Steven Hallworth praised O’Sullivan, calling him synonymous with snooker and a beloved player for his exceptional talent.
O’Sullivan defeated Wakelin 6-3 to advance to the final, where he will face Neil Robertson, who also secured a 6-3 victory over Elliot Slessor.
This victory marked O’Sullivan’s first competitive 147 break since 2018 and set a new record as the oldest player to achieve a maximum break, breaking his own record moments later in the match.
Introduced for the 2025-26 season, the £147,000 bonus is awarded to players who achieve two maximum breaks across specific tournaments. O’Sullivan, however, managed to claim the prize in just one tournament.
While previously critical of small prizes for maximum breaks, O’Sullivan’s impressive performance in Saudi Arabia earned him a substantial six-figure sum for his second 147 break.
Looking ahead to the final, both O’Sullivan and Robertson have the opportunity to increase their earnings significantly. The winner will receive a substantial £500,000 prize, with the runner-up taking home £200,000.
Reflecting on his journey to the final, Robertson highlighted the importance of ranking points and the competitive nature of the sport, emphasizing the dedication and hard work required for such achievements.
In preparation for the upcoming 2025/26 season, Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports package, offering a saving of £336 and access to over 1,400 live matches, including Premier League and EFL games.
Sky will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches in the upcoming season, a significant increase from previous years.
