Ronnie O'Sullivan fired a remarkable 147 break at the World Open in Glasgow after halting play when on eight points to check the prize for a maximum. He was told there was no separate purse but cleared up to beat Mark King 3-0. The 34-year-old appeared content to end on the pink in the final frame and had to be persuaded to pot the black.
Jimmy White now waits in the fourth round for O'Sullivan, whose break was a record 10th career maximum, one more than his rival Stephen Hendry. It was a typically extraordinary performance from the mercurial O'Sullivan, who has surprisingly fallen to sixth in the world rankings, largely because he chose to miss the recent event in Shanghai.
O'Sullivan took the first frame in 10 minutes after breaks of 38 and 75. The second frame was a comedy of errors, with gritty left-hander King running out of position having made only 15. O'Sullivan fought his way back into the frame but only a couple of shots from securing a 2-0 lead he saw a break end on 25 when an attempt into the centre pocket bounced out of the jaws.
King reduced the deficit to 14 points with a run of 20 then left the yellow, but after O'Sullivan potted it he played a wild shot that let in the left-hander. He could only knock in the green but another reckless shot from O'Sullivan gave him another chance, although in potting the brown over the pocket he snookered himself on the pink and after a few more shenanigans O'Sullivan took the frame.
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Then came the brilliance, and after potting the first red and black in frame three O'Sullivan halted proceedings to ask what the prize for a 147 was, only to be eventually told there was no additional purse and only a £4,000 sum for the highest break.
He potted some outstanding balls in his maximum, achieved in barely 10 minutes - even with the delay when researching about the 147 prize - but shook hands with King after disposing of the pink. Referee Jan Verhaas persuaded O'Sullivan to finish the break and he duly slammed in the black in nonchalant fashion.