Editing Maximum break (section)

==History==
[[Joe Davis]] compiled the first officially recognised maximum break on 22&nbsp;January 1955, in a match against [[Willie Smith (billiards player)|Willie Smith]] at [[Leicester Square Hall]], London.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=24 January 1955 |page=12 |title=Maximum snooker record}}</ref> The [[Billiards and Snooker Control Council|Billiards Association and Control Council]] initially refused to accept the break since the match was not played under their rules. At the time, the professional game used a rule (now standard, see [[Rules of snooker#Fouls|rules of snooker]]) whereby after a foul a player could compel the offender to play the next stroke. It was not until a meeting on 20&nbsp;March 1957 that the break was officially recognised, and Davis was presented with a certificate to commemorate his achievement.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=21 March 1957 |page=4 |title=J Davis's record recognized}}</ref> The match between Davis and Smith was played as part of a series of events marking the closure of Leicester Square Hall; known as Thurston's Hall until 1947,<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=18 September 1947 |page=6 |title=Billiards and Snooker}}</ref> the venue had hosted many important billiards and snooker matches since its opening in 1901, including twelve [[World Snooker Championship]] finals.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=17 January 1955 |page=3 |title=Farewell Leicester Square – Hall of Memories lost to Billiards}}</ref> [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]] compiled a maximum break in the [[1979 Holsten Lager International]], but it did not count as an official maximum, however, as the break was made on a non{{nbh}}templated table used during the event.<ref name="snooker.org_Records" /> The first official maximum break in professional competition was compiled by [[Steve Davis]] in the [[1982 Classic (snooker)|1982 Classic]] at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in [[Oldham]], against John Spencer.<ref name="Max 068" /> This was also the first televised maximum break.<ref name="Guinness_WR_147" /><ref name="Max 001" /> For his achievement, Davis won a [[Lada]] car provided by the event's sponsors.<ref name="Sporting_Life_History">{{cite news |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/article/663/9062843/snookers-historic-maximum-breaks |title=Snooker's historic maximum breaks |date=7 December 2013 |newspaper=[[Sporting Life (British newspaper)|Sporting Life]] |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304053230/http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/article/663/9062843/snookers-historic-maximum-breaks |archive-date=4 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The following year, [[Cliff Thorburn]] became the first player to make a maximum at the [[1983 World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] in the fourth frame of his second round match against [[Terry Griffiths]].<ref name="Sporting_Life_History" />

Before the [[1994–95 snooker season|1994{{nbnd}}95]] season, the maximum break remained a rare feat, with only 15 official maximums compiled altogether. However, beginning in the 1994{{nbnd}}95 season, at least one maximum break has been achieved every season thereafter. There were 13 maximums scored in each of the [[2016–17 snooker season|2016{{nbnd}}17]], [[2022–23 snooker season|2022{{nbnd}}23]], and [[2023–24 snooker season|2023{{nbnd}}24]] seasons. This was the highest number until the [[2024–25 snooker season|2024{{nbnd}}25]] season during which there were 15 maximums made.<ref name="WST_24_25_maximums">{{cite web |title=147s record could be smashed this season |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/february/07/147s-record-could-be-smashed-this-season/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=7 February 2025 |access-date=19 February 2025 |archive-date=19 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219174736/https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/february/07/147s-record-could-be-smashed-this-season/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Max 217" />

[[Mark Selby]] made the 100th officially recognised maximum break in professional competition on 7&nbsp;December 2013 in the seventh frame of his semi{{nbh}}final match against [[Ricky Walden]] at the [[2013 UK Championship|UK Championship]].<ref name="Max 100" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/25284182 |title=UK Snooker Championship 2013: Selby makes 100th 147 break |date=7 December 2013 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=3 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107132534/http://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/25284182 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2025|04|14}},<ref name="Max 215" /><ref name="Max 216" /> 216 official maximum breaks have been recorded in professional competition,<ref name="WPBSA_Official_List" /><ref name="WST_Official_List" /> with the 200th being made by [[Joe O'Connor (snooker player)|Joe O'Connor]] at the [[2024 Championship League (invitational)|2024 Championship League]].<ref name="Max 200" /> Englishman [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] has compiled 15 official competitive maximum breaks, the most achieved by any professional player.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4346839,00.html |title=Rocket flies to magical maximum |last=Rawlinson |first=Mark |date=4 December 2014 |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |access-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208111600/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~4346839%2C00.html |archive-date=8 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Following him are [[John Higgins]] with 13, [[Stephen Hendry]] with 11, [[Shaun Murphy]] with ten, [[Stuart Bingham]] with nine, [[Judd Trump]] with eight, and [[Ding Junhui]] with seven. O'Sullivan also holds the record for the fastest competitive maximum break at just over five minutes<!-- DO NOT CHANGE THIS TIME TO SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC. THE BBC BOTCHED THE TIMING SO 5:20 IS POSSIBLY WRONG -->, which he set at the [[1997 World Snooker Championship|1997 World Championship]].<ref name="Deadspin_Tippett" />

On 30 April 2023, Selby made a maximum break in the 16th frame during the [[2023 World Snooker Championship|2023 World Championship]] final against [[Luca Brecel]], the first achieved in a [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] final.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Snooker Championship 147: Mark Selby makes first maximum in final but trails Luca Brecel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/65443883 |date=30 April 2023 |access-date=30 April 2023 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steve |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430214028/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/65443883 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 December 2023, Murphy made a maximum break in his first{{nbh}}round match against [[Bulcsú Révész]] in the [[2023 Snooker Shoot Out (2023–24 season)|2023 Shoot Out]], the first ever compiled at the [[Snooker Shoot Out|Shoot Out]], which is played under a variation of snooker rules, with a [[Shot clock#Shot clock length in other sports|shot clock]] and fouls awarding {{cuegloss|ball in hand}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker Shoot-Out: Shaun Murphy hits first 147 in tournament history |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/67652055 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=7 December 2023 |access-date=8 October 2024 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207230638/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/67652055 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Max 194" /> On 5 October 2024, in his winning run in [[2024–25 Q Tour#Event 3|event 3]], [[Zhao Xintong]] made the first ever maximum break on the [[Q Tour]], the secondary snooker tour that serves as a qualification route to the main professional tour, in his 4{{nbnd}}1 win over Shaun Liu.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zhao wins in Stockholm and makes 147 |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/october/06/Zhao-Wins-In-Stockholm-And-Makes-147/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=6 October 2024 |access-date=8 October 2024 |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007150343/https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/october/06/Zhao-Wins-In-Stockholm-And-Makes-147/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=China's Zhao hits 147 in Q Tour win |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/articles/cwy9vkz00jxo |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=5 October 2023 |access-date=8 October 2024 |archive-date=6 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006093839/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/articles/cwy9vkz00jxo |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zhao Xintong hits historic Q Tour maximum in Stockholm |url=https://wpbsa.com/zhao-xintong-hits-historic-q-tour-maximum-in-stockholm/ |work=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |date=5 October 2024 |access-date=8 October 2024 |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007100434/https://wpbsa.com/zhao-xintong-hits-historic-q-tour-maximum-in-stockholm/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

At least nine players have missed the final black on a score of 140: [[Robin Hull]], [[Ken Doherty]], [[Barry Pinches]], Mark Selby,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/more-sports/snooker/news/12243/8601712/near-miss-for-mark-selby-in-easy-win-over-mark-king-in-china |title=Near-miss for Mark Selby in easy win over Mark King in China |date=27 March 2013 |website=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513154605/https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/snooker/news/12243/8601712/near-miss-for-mark-selby-in-easy-win-over-mark-king-in-china |archive-date=13 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Michael White (snooker player)|Michael White]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.love-snooker.com/2253-doherty-secures-austalian-open-place.html |title=Doherty secures Australian Open place |date=3 June 2013 |website=Love Snooker |access-date=2 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208114047/http://www.love-snooker.com/2253-doherty-secures-austalian-open-place.html |archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> [[Thepchaiya Un-Nooh]] (twice in the [[2015–16 snooker season|2015{{nbnd}}16 season]] and once in the [[2024–25 snooker season|2024{{nbnd}}25 season]]),{{refn|<ref>{{cite web |title=Un-Nooh misses black for 147 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/un-nooh-misses-black-for-147 |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=1 December 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205025858/http://www.worldsnooker.com/un-nooh-misses-black-for-147/ |archive-date=5 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/36028297 |title=Thepchaiya Un-Nooh misses final-black maximum again |date=12 April 2016 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412193726/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/36028297 |archive-date=12 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Un-Nooh misses black for 147 |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/september/30/Un-Nooh-Misses-Black-For-147/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=30 September 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930182730/https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/september/30/Un-Nooh-Misses-Black-For-147/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}} [[Liang Wenbo]] in a qualifying match at the [[2018 World Snooker Championship|2018 World Championship]], after he had already made a maximum earlier in the same match,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/liang-makes-147-misses-black-140 |title=Liang Makes 147 – then misses black on 140 |date=12 April 2018 |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090948/http://www.worldsnooker.com/liang-makes-147-misses-black-140/ |archive-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and both Joe O'Connor and [[Jack Lisowski]] at the [[2025 Championship League (invitational)|2025 Championship League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=O'Connor spurns 147 but tops Group |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/22/o-connor-spurns-147-but-tops-group/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=22 January 2025 |access-date=23 January 2025 |archive-date=23 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123072123/https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/22/o-connor-spurns-147-but-tops-group/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ton-happy Trump wins Group |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/23/ton-happy-trump-wins-group/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=23 January 2025 |access-date=24 January 2025 |archive-date=24 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124074354/https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/23/ton-happy-trump-wins-group/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[#Breaks exceeding 147|Breaks above 147]] are possible when an opponent fouls and leaves a {{Cuegloss|free ball}} with all 15 reds still remaining on the table. A break greater than 147 has happened only once in professional competition, when [[Jamie Burnett]] made a break of 148 at the qualifying stage of the [[2004 UK Championship]].<ref name="Burnett_148_Guardian" /><ref name="Burnett_148_BBC" /> [[Jamie Cope]] compiled a break of 155 points, the highest possible free{{nbh}}ball break, during practice in 2005.<ref name="Everton_Guardian">{{cite news |url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/snooker/story/0,10158,1590060,00.html |title=Murphy shows the form and confidence of a champion |date=12 October 2005 |first=Clive |last=Everton |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222072101/http://sport.guardian.co.uk/snooker/story/0,10158,1590060,00.html |archive-date=22 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Alex Higgins]] is said to have attained the same feat by some players.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/alex-higgins/alex-higgins-a-155-break-impossible-not-for-higgy-28548775.html |title=Alex Higgins: A 155 break impossible? Not for Higgy |date=26 July 2010 |newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |access-date=3 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081750/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/alex-higgins/alex-higgins-a-155-break-impossible-not-for-higgy-28548775.html |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>