Ronnie O'Sullivan's 'phenomenal' 153 record-breaking clearance the moment of the season - 'It is just unbelievable'
By Alex Livie
Published 04/05/2026 at 21:29 GMT+1
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Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record-breaking 153 clearance at the World Open in Yushan was the moment of the 2025/26 snooker season for six-time Crucible finalist Jimmy White.
'Very special moment!' - Watch O'Sullivan create history with highest ever professional break of 153
Video credit: TNT Sports
O’Sullivan had a mixed time of things in the 2025/26 season, as he missed a host of tournaments but stole headlines when he did play.
He made two maximums in one match against Chris Wakelin at the Saudi Arabia Masters, but went even better in terms of break-building at the World Open when he made an amazing 153 against Ryan Day.
A 147 is snooker’s maximum break, but a higher score is on offer if a player fouls and leaves a free ball. That is what happened when Day fouled in their first-round match in Yushan, as O’Sullivan potted a green as the free ball before taking 15 reds, 13 blacks, two pinks and the colours to set another record.
It left a big impression on TNT Sports’ White, who said: ”Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 153, free ball, 16 reds.
”Is there any other records this guy can break?
”To do that, it was just a phenomenal feat.
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'Very special moment!' - Watch O'Sullivan create history with highest ever professional break of 153
Video credit: TNT Sports
”It is just unbelievable how he has managed to go and do this. It was the first frame in the tournament - a 153.
”Ronnie is laughing, ’What has gone on there?' Amazing, amazing effort. It was fantastic.
"It is typical of Ronnie O’Sullvian to break a record like that. A possible 155, but for him to make a 153, we did not think we would ever see that.”
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While O’Sullivan raised the roof in Yushan, it was a similar story when Jack Lisowski won his maiden title at the Northern Ireland Open.
After a host of near misses, Lisowski beat his great friend Judd Trump 9-8 in the final, and that was Reanne Evans’ moment of the season.
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'Let the celebrations begin' - Lisowski seals victory for first career title
Video credit: TNT Sports
”There were so many different winners, so many big performances, but for me it has got to be Jack Lisowski,” record 12-time women’s world champion Evans said.
”I don’t think there’s one person who would not have wanted this to happen.
”Jack is a phenomenal talent in the game; we thought he would win much sooner than he did. And to do it against his best mate on tour as well, you could feel the emotion.
”Don’t forget he has had a tough time off the table as well, so it is extra special for him and his family.
”I am so happy for him and I don’t think there was one dry eye in the house when he was lifting that trophy.
”It was fantastic, a fantastic achievement, and let’s hope he can go on to bigger and better things.”
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Watch in full: Chang rattles off FOURTH century in stunning whitewash of Murphy
Video credit: TNT Sports
O’Sullivan and Lisowski stole the headlines with their efforts, but Alan McManus went for an under-the-radar moment.
The 1994 Masters champion picked out Chang Bingyu’s four-century whitewash of Shaun Murphy at the Welsh Open for his moment of the season.
”I am going to go back to a match in the last 64 of the Welsh Open,” McManus said.
”We love the big finals and the big moments, but this was the performance of the season by Chang Bingyu.
”He beat Shaun Murphy with breaks of 130, 136, 119 and another 130. It was an amazing performance.”
It was not Chang’s most-lucrative moment of the season, however.
”Also worth mentioning that Chang Bingyu has had a maximum in the UK Championship against Stephen Maguire and in the World Championship against Luca Brecel in qualifying, so he has £147,000 to go with it,” McManus added. ”He is a proper prospect.”
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