Ronnie O'Sullivan's ten greatest achievements, including the fastest 147 and most memorable 146

Joe Hewlett
3 May 2022

Ronnie O'Sullivan celebrates with the trophy during day seventeen of the Betfred World Snooker Championship at The Crucible,

With a record-equalling seventh world title in the bag, Ronnie O'Sullivan is arguably the greatest player in snooker history. Here, Planet Sport looks back on his moments of genius.

The Rocket put on a sensational performance in the final of the 2022 World Snooker Championship as he beat Judd Trump 18-13 to win a historic seventh title at the Crucible.

O'Sullivan's latest crown puts him on level terms with Stephen Hendry, who has been leading the all-time chart since 1999.

As well as claiming the world title, the 46-year-old became the oldest player to ever win the tournament. If that wasn't enough, O'Sullivan has now won more matches at the Crucible than any other player in history (74) - four more than Hendry.

In his 28th year as professional, O'Sullivan has already racked up his fair share of memorable moments. Planet Sport relives some of the best...

Most ranking titles

Ronnie O'Sullivan loses to Ricky Walden in the Welsh Open

O'Sullivan is on his own when it comes to winning ranking events at 39 - two ahead of Hendry. He surpassed the Scot's record by winning the 2020 World Championship and added to his tally with the World Grand Prix in 2021.

His record could stand for a very long time with nearest active rival John Higgins back on 31.

Realistically, the only two players who could overtake him in the future are Judd Trump and Neil Robertson who are both on 23.

Quickest 147 of all-time

Twenty-five years ago, O'Sullivan produced a record-breaking maximum break in the 14th frame of his World Championship first round match against Mick Price.

Originally ratified at five minutes and 20 seconds, World Snooker reduced it to five minutes and eight seconds after stating that the time should start from the moment O'Sullivan hit the cue ball to begin the break.

"I couldn't believe how fast he was going. I watch it back now and he's virtually running round the table, it was ridiculous, just brilliant, mesmeric," said Price who had the best seat in the house.

Hitting 1,000 centuries

O'Sullivan became the first player to reach the landmark in 2020 against Neil Robertson in the Players Championship final at Preston's Guide Hall.

It was a fairy-tale ending for O'Sullivan who notched up his 1,000 century break in the final frame to win the title. Interestingly, it was at the same venue O'Sullivan won his first UK Championship as a teenager 26 years earlier.

Masters love affair

Alexandra Palace is a venue Ronnie just loves playing at.

In recent times, O'Sullivan has spoken about lacking the motivation to travel around England and Europe to win ranking points. While the Masters is not a ranking event, it is a tournament not too far away from his Chigwell base.

Part of the Triple Crown, alongside the World Championship and UK Championship, O'Sullivan has won the competition a record seven times and has also finished runner-up on six occasions.

Breaking Steve Davis' record

The Nugget finished his career having won six UK Championship titles and it looked as if the record could stand following O'Sullivan's 2014 defeat to Mark Selby.

However, O'Sullivan equalled the tally in 2017 with a 10-5 win over Shaun Murphy before defeating Mark Allen 10-6 in 2018 to overtake Davis.

Speaking in York after the milestone, O'Sullivan said: "It's great to make history. To beat Davis' record and to beat Stephen Hendry, who is my hero and the ultimate player, is just crazy."

146 break

We all want to see a 147 break but there was something beautiful about O'Sullivan deliberately refusing to go for it after finding out the reward for a maximum at the 2016 Welsh Open.

O'Sullivan asked what the prize was for a maximum just a couple of pots in and found out it was £10,000.

Unimpressed, O'Sullivan opts to rolls the ball back to pot the pink rather than the black after the penultimate red to end any chance of a 147. Laughing at his self-sabotage, he then mops up the remaining red, black and colours to hit a 146, incurring the wrath of World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn who called his actions "disrespectful".

And in typical Ronnie fashion, he said if you could guarantee a 146 break then every snooker fan would buy a ticket to witness it.

Ronnie O'Sullivan's 146-break deemed as "disrespectful" by the head of World Snooker https://t.co/rxKEhJIz66 pic.twitter.com/y4gbNw079c
— #OTBAM (@OffTheBallAM) February 16, 2016

Success as a teenager

O'Sullivan started playing snooker at the age of seven and by the age of nine he won his first club tournament and scored a century break (eventually hitting 117).

At the age of 14, O'Sullivan defeated world number 34 Marcel Gauvreau 3-2 in the quarter-final of a professional-amateur tournament in Stevenage. He won the game with a sensational break of 120 and went on to beat Anthony Hamilton in the final.

In 1991, O'Sullivan reached the final of the English Amateur Championship. While he lost the final 10-13 to Steve Judd, O'Sullivan hit his first maximum at the age of 15 years and 98 days. It made him the youngest player in history to hit a 147 break.

It was a record that stood until 2017 when Sean Maddocks achieved the same feat at 15 years and 90 days.

Oldest world champion in history

Ronnie O'Sullivan was involved in a heated dispute with the referee

In 2020, the World Championship returned but in July rather than its usual April start due to Covid-19 restrictions.

O'Sullivan took part and during the final two days, a limited amount of tickets were sold for spectators to attend the Crucible.

The Rocket beat Ding Junhui, Mark Williams and Mark Selby before overcoming Kyren Wilson in the final to win his sixth World Championship. At the age of 44, O'Sullivan became the oldest world champion since Ray Reardon - a former coach of O'Sullivan's - who won the tournament in 1978 aged 46.

Fast forward to 2022, and the Rocket has gone one better. His world title win in 2022 makes his the oldest ever winner of the tournament.

Most money won in tournaments

According to GiveMeSport, O'Sullivan has won the most prize money in snooker history.

It may not come as a surprise when you look at his record: Most ranking titles, a six-time world champion alongside seven wins at the Masters.

It is estimated that since turning professional in 1992, O'Sullivan has made around £30million from the sport.

That is just tournament prize money, with exhibition events, a diet and nutrition book, a couple of autobiographies and TV work swelling the coffers further. All the more reason to keep on playing the game that comes so naturally to him.