Ronnie O'Sullivan Fastest 147 in History 5 minutes 8 seconds 1997 World Championship

Title and Description edited on 15th June 2019.

Thanks to everyone who commented that the official time has been changed to 5 minutes 8 seconds.

Blessed with the rare gift of being able to play to a high standard both left-handed and right-handed, he made the fastest 147 on record at the 1997 World Championship, completing the feat in just 5 minutes and 8 seconds. - World Snooker

Ronnie O'Sullivan's first 147 break against Mick Price in their second round tie at the 1997 world championship set a still-standing world record for the fastest maximum in the history of the game. Guinness World Records recorded the time of the break at 5 minutes and 20 seconds. However, an investigation undertaken by Deadspin in 2017 revealed that the time recorded by Guinness is incorrect because the timer was started too early on the BBC footage. Breaks are not officially timed in snooker and the official rules of snooker do not specify how they should be timed, instead leaving the timing to the discretion of the broadcaster.

 The only timing methodology World Snooker sanctions in its events is the one employed in shot clock events where timing for a player's shot begins when the balls have come to rest from his opponent's previous shot. Under this convention the break would have been timed at 5 minutes and 15 seconds. However, World Snooker has since suggested that a break starts when the player strikes the cueball for the first time in a break which would result in a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds, and this is the time that World Snooker now officially acknowledges.

[MalcolmPowder]

Meanwhile on the other table, Peter Ebdon had made a break of 9 and was just having the cueball cleaned for the 6th time.

[scottjenkins]

I scored a 147 once, when I was 13 years old. Took about 5 hours 22 minutes. It was my first 18 hole round of golf. I've gotten better over the years but not by much.

[simoncarroll]

Your 21 playing in front of TV cameras in the world championship knowing you could win £147, 000 almost £250, 000 in today’s money and you rattle in the fastest ever maximum break without hesitating this has to be one of the most flawless examples of sporting perfection ever. A world record which is already 23 years old and I suspect will never be broken

[stormruner]

It's crazy to think, that this was 26 years ago, and now he is still the best player in the world.

[zimmie]

When you’ve played snooker at any level you know there are a thousand ways of messing up every shot. This is perfection made to look ridiculously simple. Speed of thought, perfect cueing, incredible

[koenheye]

Just want to mention the referee Len Ganley, who had a little part in setting this record. One of the best and most respected referees ever. He always adapted his speed of refereeing to the speed of the game and the players. The perfect referee to set this record. I can think of other referees (without mentioning them ;), with which this break would have taken minutes longer

[nakkadu]

If "in the zone" ever meant anything then this is it!!

[LanceCampeau]

Absolute chills watching this.... the power of the human mind and body working in concert. It truly is marvelous.

[magneticman]

Imagine being Mick Price, and knowing that your biggest claim to fame in snooker will now always be the fact that you sat there and watched Ronnie do this.

[willestlea]

Dennis Taylor’s little murmured “I don’t believe this” is probably my favourite piece of commentary from any sport ever, just brilliant

[classicalmusic]

Most triple crown titles
Most career century breaks
Most 147 breaks

The greatest of all time.

[mozb]

It's hard to truly emphasize how hard this is to do, you can spend your whole life practicing this game and never make it past the 3rd or 4th red, the precision and coordination needed can only really be properly appreciated once you have realised how hard this sport actually is.

It's a cliche but he really did make this look ridiculously easy, almost to the point of the routine. There are many contenders but for me this will always be the greatest break of all time. Given the speed, precision and the life changing prize money on the line I can't see how this will ever be topped.

[JRT]

25 years ago today, and still unmatched. Legend

[james]

Watching this again in 2024. 27 years ago this magician showed us why he will forever be the best snooker player to play the game.

[Coldnewton]

For any non snooker players who have just happened to watch this, please believe me when I say that snooker is an incredibly hard game to play.

[Defossion]

This was, and remains, the most perfect frame of snooker in the history of the game.

[AussieJohnny]

If I'm feeling a bit down I come back to watch Ronnie's incredible 147. It always cheers me up.

[scottturnick]

Anyone else watch this probably a dozen times over .the years?

[djapcrumhorne]

I was 13 when Ronnie performed this miracle, and let's face it it really was a sporting miracle. I remember my dear departed grandad picking me up from school and telling me I was in for a real treat when the highlights came on later that evening, and by god he couldn't have been more right.

Fast forward 27 years and I've just shown this to my 12 year old lad who started to show an interest in snooker during covid. I wanted him to spend a while playing and really understanding how difficult this game is before showing it to him, because only then can you appreciate what a transcendental few minutes this really is. As others have said, there isnt a chance in hell this record will ever be beaten.

Respect to JV and especially Dennis for their pitch perfect commentary too - despite being a world champ himself Dennis was truly one of us that day, just a fan watching in awe as his own sport was perfected in front of his very eyes.

I've downloaded a copy of the vid in case it should ever disappear from YouTube - I want to be able to tell my grandson one day that he's in for a real treat when I collect him from school one Monday evening in the future.

[jamesjarrett]

No-one will ever dismantle the game of snooker so thoroughly, so comprehensively, and with such ease and speed ever again. Strangely, his talent was so huge that it nearly sent him round the bend. Thankfully, he has been able to get a grip on his thoughts and feelings and find ways to cope that work for him.