Relive how snooker went loopy for maximums with record 13 147s in 82 days as Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ali Carter and Aaron Hill lead gold rush
Updated 07/10/2025 at 22:42 GMT+1
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Snooker's inexorable march towards an all-time record haul of 147s continued on the opening day of the Xi'an Grand Prix on Tuesday when two maximums were compiled by Judd Trump and Aaron Hill, the latter's second this term. It brings the total to a staggering 13 in 82 days, only two short of the record total of 15 compiled last season. In comparison, only three were made at this time last year.
He’s done it again! Watch as O’Sullivan makes second 147 in stunning semi-final showing
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The 229th and 230th maximum breaks in the modern televised history of professional snooker were produced on a remarkable opening day of the Xi'an Grand Prix in China on Tuesday.
World No. 1 Judd Trump weighed in with the ninth perfect run of his career in a 5-2 win over Ng On Yee before Aaron Hill did likewise with the second of his career, and his second of the season, in dispatching Huang Jiahao by the same scoreline.
Only 82 days have passed since Fan Zhengyi began the green baize gold rush in July, with the first 147 of the 13 recorded so far this season against Xu Si at the Championship League in Leicester.
World No. 46 Hill is not the only player to double up, with Thai speed merchant Thepchaiya Un-Nooh making immaculate 147s at the Saudi Arabia Masters and Wuhan Open.
Ronnie O'Sullivan also celebrated a historic double against Chris Wakelin in the semi-finals of the £2.3 million Saudi event in Jeddah, worth a whopping £147,000 bonus and a share of the £50,000 high break prize with Un-Nooh.
O'Sullivan is also the first man in history to hit two maximums in the same match, and extends his position as the leading 147-maker of all time with 17 since his iconic first against Mick Price at the 1997 World Championship, the fastest in history at five minutes and eight seconds.
Hill is in line to earn a share of the £5,000 top break prize at the Xi'an Grand Prix alongside Trump a month after Ali Carter did likewise to Hill at the English Open in Brentwood.
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'That was a classic!' Experts react to Carter's 147 break as it happened
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The two-time world finalist celebrated a maximum against Hill at the English Open, three days after the Cork professional rolled in his maiden career 147 against Yao Pengcheng.
In an emblem of the rising standards in the sport, the 13 147s made in under three months is five more than the entire total for the 1980s and is already halfway to the 26 witnessed in the 1990s.
Steve Davis famously made the first at the Lada Classic against John Spencer in January 1982, the six-time world champion's solitary competitive 147, with over half of the 230 running total witnessed in the past 15 years.
"I think they are more special than tournament wins," said Trump on Tuesday after joining Stuart Bingham as the fifth highest 147 man in history.
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"I’ve had a lot more tournament wins than maximums. The feeling when I play snooker, I don’t get that nervous any more, but there’s always a different buzz when you are on for a 147.
"You are always smiling as you walk off. It’s the one thing you can still do on a snooker table that makes you feel like a kid.
"No matter what happens, the feeling you get as a snooker player.
"It’s nice to win events, but making a 147 is probably more special than anything."
Snooker's top 10 maximum makers
- 1. Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 17
- 2. John Higgins (Sco) 12
- 3. Stephen Hendry (Sco) 11
- 4. Shaun Murphy (Eng) 10
- 5. Judd Trump (Eng) 9
- 5. Stuart Bingham (Eng) 9
- 7. Ding Junhui (Chn) 7
- 8. Gary Wilson (Eng) 6
- 8. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha) 6
- 8. Mark Selby (Eng) 6
13. Trump v On Yee - Xian Grand Prix, October 7, 2025
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Watch in full: Trump hits brilliant 147 against Ng
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11. Wilson v Zizins - International Championship, October 2, 2025
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Watch: Wilson hits brilliant 'walk-off' 147 to cap win over Zizins
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10. Carter v Hill - English Open, September 17, 2025
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Watch the moment Carter clinches maximum break - despite late scare
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9. Hill v Yao - English Open, September 14, 2025
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Watch thrilling finish as Hill completes memorable 147 at English Open
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8. Zhou v Leclercq - Xi'an Grand Prix, September, 2 2025
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Watch in full as Zhou makes 147 in Xi'an Grand Prix qualifying
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6. Xiao v Mink - Wuhan Open, August 24, 2025
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Watch in full as Xiao sinks 147 to delight Wuhan Open crowd
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5. O'Sullivan v Wakelin - Saudi Arabia Masters, August 15, 2025
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O'Sullivan begins semi-final with incredible 147 at Saudi Arabia Masters
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4. O'Sullivan v Wakelin - Saudi Arabia Masters, August 15, 2025
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He’s done it again! Watch as O’Sullivan makes second 147 in stunning semi-final showing
Video credit: TNT Sports
3. Un-Nooh v Brown - Saudi Arabia Masters, August 10, 2025
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'Incredible player' - Thepchaiya makes stunning 147 at Saudi Arabia Masters
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2. Zhang v Ding - Shanghai Masters, July 29, 2025
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Listen to the roar as Anda hits stunning 147 against Ding
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1. Fan v Xu - Championship League, July 17, 2025
147 magic: Snooker's maximum men in 2025/26
- 13. October 7, 2025: Aaron Hill v Huang Jiahao (Xi'an Grand Prix)
- 12. October 7, 2025: Judd Trump v Ng On Yee (Xi'an Grand Prix)
- 11. October 2, 2025 Gary Wilson v Artemijs Zizins (International Championship)
- 10. September 17, 2025: Ali Carter v Aaron Hill (English Open)
- 9. September 14, 2025: Aaron Hill v Yao Pengcheng (English Open)
- 8. September 2, 2025: Zhou Yuelong v Julien Leclercq (Xi'an Grand Prix)
- 7. August 25, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Pang Junxu (Wuhan Open)
- 6. August 24, 2025: Xiao Guodong v Mink Nutcharut (Wuhan Open)
- 5. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
- 4. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
- 3. August 10, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Jordan Brown (Saudi Arabia Masters)
- 2. July 29, 2025: Zhang Anda v Ding Junhui (Shanghai Masters)
- 1. July 17, 2025: Fan Zhengyi v Xu Si (Championship League)
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