Ronnie O'Sullivan's 147 Refusal: Referee's Plea Saved Historic Break
In a remarkable incident at the 2010 World Open in Glasgow, snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan came close to abandoning a perfect 147 break due to dissatisfaction with the prize money, only to be persuaded by referee Jan Verhaas to complete the feat for his fans. This extraordinary moment has resurfaced amid O'Sullivan's recent record-breaking performance at the ongoing World Open in Yushan, China, where he achieved a historic 153 break.
The 2010 Drama: A Break Interrupted by Prize Dispute
During his match against Mark King, O'Sullivan, known as The Rocket, paused early in the frame after scoring eight points to ask Verhaas about the reward for a maximum clearance. In unusual scenes, Verhaas was unaware of the prize and had to consult nearby officials, causing a delay of about a minute and a half before O'Sullivan played his next shot.
Upon learning that there was no specific bonus for a 147—only £4,000 for the tournament's highest break—O'Sullivan informed the official he would not complete it. The break continued until he potted the pink, at which point he moved to shake King's hand, but Verhaas intervened, encouraging him to pot the black.
O'Sullivan later confessed, "I wasn't going to pot the black because to make 147 and not really get a nice bonus was a bit disappointing because they are magical moments and they deserve magical bonuses." He added, "But the ref played a guilt trip on me and said, 'Come on, do it for your fans.' And I thought, 'OK, because I haven't got long to play anyway, so I might as well go out on a high.' But I wasn't going to pot it because four grand, once you've paid the taxes..."
Referee's Perspective: A Moment of Persuasion
Jan Verhaas, who has since retired from front-line officiating and now serves as a refereeing assessor with the World Snooker Tour, recalled the incident on the Framed podcast last year. He said, "Throughout the break, he kept chatting to me, saying, 'I'm not going to do it.' I could sense he was going to leave that black or the pink. I thought, 'I've got to say something.'"
Verhaas explained that before the match, he had spoken to fans who traveled from Spain to watch O'Sullivan, which inspired his plea. "I said to him, 'Do it for your fans.' He said I played with his conscience. It was one of those strange moments but I'm glad I did it," he added.
Recent World Open Highlights: A Record-Breaking 153
This story gains new relevance as O'Sullivan has been involved in further high-break drama at the current World Open in Yushan, China. In his quarter-final victory over Ryan Day, O'Sullivan astonishingly made a 153 break, the highest ever in professional snooker, surpassing Jamie Burnett's 148 from 2004.
With a free ball after Day fouled, a 155 was theoretically possible at one point. Despite the highest break prize at this tournament being only £5,000, there was no indication that O'Sullivan would halt his progress this time. The record-breaking frame was the first of the match, which O'Sullivan won 5-0, setting up a semi-final clash against Wu Yize.
This incident underscores O'Sullivan's unique character in the sport, blending unparalleled skill with moments of controversy and showmanship. It also highlights the role of officials like Verhaas in preserving the integrity and excitement of snooker for fans worldwide.
