Over 30 years after rattling in his first century break at the age of 10, Ronnie O’Sullivan stands on the brink of registering his 1,000th competitive ton.
O’Sullivan will head into his first round match against Luke Simmonds at the UK Championships in York next week just 22 short of the momentous milestone.
He may be best known for his quickfire maximum breaks, but the 42-year-old has scored a number of other memorable three-figure breaks. Here Press Association Sport picks out five of the best of them:
147 v MICK PRICE, 1997 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
It's 20 years to the day since @ronnieo147 made his 147 at the Crucible in five minutes 20 seconds. Hope Mick Price has sent a card.
— David Hendon (@davehendon) April 21, 2017
Regarded as probably the greatest break in the sport’s history, O’Sullivan rattled in a Crucible maximum in a record-breaking five minutes and 20 seconds in his first round match against the outclassed Price. None – even the ‘Rocket’ himself – have come close to eclipsing it.
113 v NEIL ROBERTSON, 2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
In the unlikely surroundings of the Glades Arena in Kidderminster, O’Sullivan achieved the noteworthy mark of his 500th competitive century, as he rattled in a 113 en route to a 5-1 win over the Australian. Two more centuries swiftly followed as O’Sullivan wrapped up victory in style.
141 v ALI CARTER, 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
As ever, O’Sullivan chose to rise to the occasion as he set a new mark for the biggest break in a Crucible final. His 141 in the first session against Ali Carter helped him establish a 10-7 advantage, which he subsequently won 18-11 to claim his fourth world crown.
103 v BARRY HAWKINS, 2013 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
O’Sullivan rewrote yet another snooker record at the 2013 World Championships. His break of 103 in the 15th frame of the final against Barry Hawkins was his 128th at the Crucible, eclipsing the previous mark set by Stephen Hendry. He also became the first player to score six centuries in a single world final.
146 v BARRY PINCHES, 2016 WELSH OPEN
Quite how Ronnie O'Sullivan can be criticised for a break of 146 is unbelievable. The same people say there are no characters in snooker.
— Neal Foulds (@fouldsy147) February 15, 2016
After potting 14 reds and 13 blacks, O’Sullivan deliberately gave up his shot at a maximum break by drifting up for the pink instead. Afterwards he called the £10,000 on offer “too cheap” for a 147. Snooker chief Barry Hearn responded furiously, calling O’Sullivan’s display “unacceptable” and “disrespectful”.
