Fifteen reds each followed by a black, then the six colours in order — 147 points
The fifteen red-and-black sequences give 120; the colours from yellow to black add 27
General knowledge · Sport
Snooker's maximum break
First officially recognised in 1955
Sport — snooker
The highest break normally available in a frame of snooker: 147, made by potting each of the fifteen reds with a black and then clearing the six colours in sequence. Joe Davis compiled the first officially recognised one in 1955, Steve Davis the first in professional tournament play in 1982, and it has since become the sport's signature feat, celebrated as much for the nerve it takes as for the arithmetic.
How to spot them
- ▸Fifteen reds with fifteen blacks, then yellow to black — 147 points
- ▸Ronnie O'Sullivan's five minutes and eight seconds in 1997
- ▸Cliff Thorburn at the Crucible in 1983; Steve Davis on television in 1982
- ▸A free ball can lift the total above 147
Key facts
Ronnie O'Sullivan compiled one in 5 minutes 8 seconds at the Crucible in 1997 (1997)
Against Mick Price in the first round; still the fastest in competition, and a Guinness world record
Cliff Thorburn was the first to do it at the World Championship, against Terry Griffiths in 1983 (1983)
He sank to his knees at the final black; the commentary 'Good luck, mate' has become part of snooker folklore
Steve Davis was the first to do it in professional tournament play, on television in 1982 (1982)
Against John Spencer at the Lada Classic in Oldham; the sponsors gave him a Lada car
Joe Davis compiled the first officially recognised one in 1955, ratified two years later (1955)
Made on 22 January 1955 and not formally recognised until a meeting in March 1957
A free ball can push the total past 147 — Jamie Burnett made 148 in 2004 (2004)
In qualifying for the UK Championship, using a free ball as an extra red
Ronnie O'Sullivan made 153 against Ryan Day at the 2026 World Open (2026)
A free ball green, followed by all fifteen reds with thirteen blacks and two pinks, then the colours — the highest break in professional history
Quick-fire facts
- •147 is fifteen reds and fifteen blacks (120 points) followed by the colours yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black (27 points)
- •The first officially recognised one was made by Joe Davis on 22 January 1955 and ratified in 1957
- •Steve Davis made the first in professional competition, and the first on television, at the 1982 Classic against John Spencer
- •John Spencer had made one at the 1979 Holsten Lager International, but it was not ratified because the table's pockets were oversized
- •Cliff Thorburn made the first at the Crucible, during the 1983 World Championship
- •Ronnie O'Sullivan has made seventeen in competition, the most by any professional; John Higgins is next with thirteen
- •More than 240 have now been recorded in professional competition — the tally stood at 246 in July 2026
- •The youngest to make one in professional play was Thanawat Thirapongpaiboon, aged 16 years and 312 days
- •With a free ball nominated as an extra red the theoretical highest break rises to 155; Ronnie O'Sullivan's 153 at the 2026 World Open is the highest actually made
Drill it — 10 cards
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Sources
- World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association — Official Rules of the Games of Snooker and English Billiards
- Sporting Life — All of snooker's 147 breaks