World Snooker Championship Crucible 147 history: How many players have hit a maximum break and what is the prize money?
Getting a maximum break of 147 in snooker is the holy grail; the perfect game for gamblers and there’s no better place to put one together than at the Crucible Theater during the sport’s premier event, the World Snooker Championship.
The championship moved to the Crucible in Sheffield in 1977, where it has been held every year since. Only 12 maximum 147 breaks – made by eight players – were built there in that time:
- Cliff Thorburn (1983)
- Jimmy White (1992)
- Stephen Hendry (1995)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (1997)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (2003)
- Mark Williams (2005)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (2008)
- Ali Carter (2008)
- Stephen Hendry (2009)
- Stephen Hendry (2012)
- John Higgins (2020)
- Neil Robertson (2022)
Canadian Cliff Thorburn compiled the first 147 in the Crucible at the 1983 World Snooker Championships during his round of 16 match against Terry Griffiths. The break famously started with a fluke when Thorburn missed his opening red, only for it to rattle in the jaws, roll over the top cushion and go into the other corner pocket.
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Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan are the only players to have managed more than one maximum break at the Crucible – both hitting three each. Hendry’s first perfect frame there in 1995 is the only time a 147 has been hit in a one-table setup (either in the semifinals or finals) at the Crucible. So far there has not been a 147 in a World Cup final.
The only instance where more than one 147 was made in the same year at the Crucible occurred in 2008 when O’Sullivan (last 16) and Ali Carter (quarterfinals) made history.
Ahead of the 2023 World Snooker Championships, five maximum 147 breaks were taken in the qualifying rounds before the Crucible. Two of these were completed by Robert Milkins – the first two in qualifying in 2006 and 2012.
The fastest maximum 147 break
Perhaps the most famous 147 of all time was unsurprisingly conjured up by “The Rocket” Ronnie O’Sullivan.
During his first round match against qualifier Mick Price at the 1997 World Snooker Championships, 21-year-old O’Sullivan completed the perfect frame in a breathtaking time of just 5 minutes and 8 seconds. This is still the fastest 147 ever made in professional snooker.
O’Sullivan averaged a staggering 8.5 seconds per shot and netted £165,000 for his extraordinary effort – which is £535.71 per second!
What is the prize money for a 147 at the World Snooker Championship?
There is a £40,000 prize for every player who scores a 147 during the 2023 World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre.
Should a player hit a maximum of 147 breaks during the qualifying rounds, which take place between April 3rd and 12th at the English Institute of Sport, they will receive a bonus of £10,000.
The top break prize for the entire Championship (both qualifying rounds and at the Crucible Theater) is £15,000.
Should more than one 147 be made during a stage, or if the cumulative highest break is equal between two or more players, the prize money will be split equally.
A few years ago there was a £147,000 bonus for any player who scored a 147 at the Crucible Theatre. However, as the overall standard of the sport increased and maximum breaks were made more regular, this award was dropped at the 2011 edition.
When Ronnie O’Sullivan got his second 147 break at the Crucible Theater in 2003, he earned £169,000 – £147,000 for the maximum and £22,000 for the highest break of the tournament.