In the semi‑final of the 2025 Saudi Arabia Masters, O’Sullivan opened with a flawless 147, his 16th career maximumbut his first since the 2018 English Open (Reuters, Wikipedia, The Sun). Then, with the match tied at 3‑3, he did it again—another 147—becoming only the second player ever to make two maximums in one match (Reuters, Wikipedia).
But there’s more to the story. O’Sullivan, at 49 years and 253 days, became the oldest player in professional competition to record a 147 (Wikipedia, TalkSport). His second maximum gave him not only sporting glory but also a dazzling £147,000 bonus, on top of the season’s high‑break prizes, and stretched his tally of official maximums to 17 (The Sun, Wikipedia).
Fueled by impeccable form—and, notably, using a new cue following the fiery destruction of his previous one earlier this year—O’Sullivan raced to a 6‑3 victory over Chris Wakelin, also peppering the match with impressive breaks like a 142 and a 134 (The Sun, Wikipedia). He now awaits Neil Robertson in the final, with a staggering £500,000 winner’s prizeup for grabs (The Sun, TalkSport, Wikipedia).
Reflecting on the match, O’Sullivan called it “probably the maddest game I have ever played in,” expressing gratitude for the Saudi organizers and acknowledging the crowd’s energy and the event’s hospitality (The Sun). Commentator David Hendon summed up the sentiment: “Flair, aura, genius… extraordinary” (The Sun).
But there’s more to the milestone—Jackson Page had preceded him earlier this year.
In April 2025, during World Championship qualifying in Sheffield, Jackson Page made snooker history by becoming the first-ever player to compile two 147 maximum breaks in the same match (Reuters, BBC, Wikipedia). The 23‑year‑old Welshman executed one perfect break on Sunday in the eighth frame against Allan Taylor, followed by another on Monday in the twelfth frame—sealing a comprehensive 10‑2 victory (Reuters, BBC, TalkSport).
His remarkable feat earned him the £147,000 Triple Crown bonus, a prize awarded to any player making two maximums across major events in the season—the World Championship, Masters, UK Championship, and Saudi Arabia Masters (BBC, TalkSport, Wikipedia). Page himself downplayed the pressure, saying the second maximum “felt a bit routine” despite the significance (TalkSport, BBC).
Comparing the Feats
| Player | Occasion | Date | What They Did | Bonus Earned | Record Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Page | World Championship qualifying vs Allan Taylor | April 13–14, 2025 | Two 147s in one match (first-ever) | £147,000 Triple‑Crown bonus | First to achieve two maximums in same match |
| Ronnie O’Sullivan | Saudi Arabia Masters semi-final vs Chris Wakelin | August 15, 2025 | Two 147s in one session, at age 49 | £147,000 bonus + high‑break prizes | Oldest to make a 147; second ever to make two in one match, first to do both in one session/day |
Ronnie’s feat is staggering not just for the quality but for the context: nearly 50 years old, back after a seven‑year gap since his last 147, delivering two perfect breaks in the same session, under tournament pressure. Yet Jackson Page’s achievement earlier in the year retains a unique place in the record books as the inaugural double‑147 match.
Both instances underscore snooker’s capacity to surprise—whether from a legend defying age or a rising star redefining possibility.
Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into prize structures, career comparisons, or the pending final.