Ronnie O’Sullivan has claimed he is ‘on strike’ when it comes to 147 maximum breaks in snooker in his latest row with the sport’s bosses. The seven-time world champion has long been at odds with those who run the game, frequently threatening to retire and bemoaning issues like playing standards, the quality of venues, and prize money on offer.
And it is the latter notion that has prompted his latest attack. O’Sullivan, 48, believes the rewards on offer for achieving snooker’s ultimate break don’t merit trying for one, despite making a record 15 in his own iconic career.
But he’s now said he could have had more had he not decided to deliberately stop trying to hit them. Speaking on pundit duty for Eurosport at the Welsh Open, O’Sullivan reacted to eventual tournament winner Gary Wilson nailing one in his semi-final win over John Higgins.
Asked how many more he could have made, O’Sullivan argued: “I reckon another five or six, but I went on strike a long time ago.” He then vowed to continue his strike “until they start bumping up the prize money,” saying £147,000 would be a sufficient prize.
O’Sullivan disappointed fans when he withdrew from playing in Llandudno at the 11th hour, but it was the same tournament in 2016 where he famously opted to hit a 146 in protest at the bonus prize for a maximum being only a £10,000. “I could have got on the black and possibly made a 147,” he revealed at the time.
“I knew it was 10 grand and I just thought that’s a bit too cheap, really. To make a maxi, it’s such a massive achievement and if they’re going to pay us 10 grand, I think it’s worth a bit more than that. Once the prize goes up a bit, I’ll go for the 147. A 146 is just as good.”
He later did similar at the UK Championship, where there was £15,000 on offer, implying such a paltry amount wasn’t worth the effort. “I’d probably go for it if it was £50,000 but for anything less than that then let somebody else have a go,” he said afterwards.
“I’m not that bothered for it. What’s the point? There’s no point taking the risk. I don’t need the money so if it’s going to be money then make it proper money and then I might go for it.”
Wilson sealed glory at Venue Cymru by beating Martin O’Donnell 9-4 in the final. O’Sullivan has now claimed the title for eight years, with his 2016 success representing his fourth win at the tournament.
