Ronnie O'Sullivan exclusive: Snooker GOAT on how he went 'beyond perfection' in regaining love for game after cue smash drama prompted major reset
Updated 25/11/2025 at 09:28 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan feels he has regained his passion for potting ahead of his quest for a record-extending ninth triumph at the UK Championship in York, from November 29 to December 7, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Armed with a new cue and fresh aspirations, the Dubai-based seven-time world champion has reflected on how he became the first player to hit two 147s in the same session of a match.
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The richest prize in snooker was the headline at last week's Riyadh Season Championship, with the champion earning £250,000 and a further £751,000 ($1m) up for grabs for the first player to sink the 'Golden Ball' after making a traditional 147 maximum break.
In the end, none of the 12 players in the lucrative three-day invitational event seriously threatened to produce the first 167 in the history of the sport.
Even if the golden ball had disappeared, it is doubtful if such a glitzy achievement would have bettered Ronnie O'Sullivan's gilded moments in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, when he became the first player to produce two 147s on the same day.
A 6-3 win over Chris Wakelin saw O'Sullivan open with the 16th 147 of his career, before he astonishingly repeated the feat with a 17th in the seventh frame with the match level at 3-3 to earn a whopping £180,333 bonus.
O'Sullivan, 49, who is set to chase a record-extending ninth UK title triumph, sat down with TNT Sports to reflect on a "freakish" Friday night against Wakelin when he became the oldest player in history to produce potting perfection.
Not once, but twice inside a magical two hours.
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O'Sullivan begins semi-final with incredible 147 at Saudi Arabia Masters
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"As a sportsman, I think that's all you're ever trying to do really is to chip away at the weaknesses," he told TNT Sports in an exclusive interview, ahead of the start of the 49th UK Championship in York.
"Never going to be perfect, but you aim for that. You never stop aiming for perfection. You never stop. Although there isn't perfection, I think there's beyond perfection, I've had that many times. I think in Saudi Arabia for that semi-final, I just felt...
"We're going to make mistakes, but that was instinctive for me. I felt instinctive, and I felt clinically good as well.
"I mean, that is probably the most freakish thing I've ever done in snooker. To make one 147 is amazing, but to get two in one match was just unbelievable.
"My long game's never my best, but technically, I just felt great. I'm cueing well, I'm enjoying the game. I mean, I struggled for about three years before this, really doubted whether I could play the way I wanted to play, you know?
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"And this tournament and the tournament before [Shanghai Masters] was the first time in a long time where I thought: 'Oh, I'm just playing so well'.
"I just felt so comfortable out there playing. I just felt so good, so good. I feel like I'm hitting the ball so well.
"Even in practice, every day I was just going in, just crunching the ball and just putting the ball where I wanted it. It's such a nice feeling, even just doing it on the practice table.
"But to then take it to the match table, it's such a nice feeling, because obviously all the guys on tour are really strong, and they bring their game to the table."
Armed with a new cue, O'Sullivan felt his faith in the game had been restored after snapping his old cue at the Championship League in a fit of pique in January.
He opted to take a break from the sport before making a record 33rd straight Crucible appearance in April, losing 17-7 to Zhao Xintong, who also claimed first prize in Riyadh, in the semi-finals.
But, he feels content with the condition of his game after also producing 142, 134, 70, 67 and 50 against Wakelin.
"I think it is the greatest exhibition in a best-of-11 match, and possibly ever," said the 1997 world champion Ken Doherty on TNT Sports.
"It was just amazing," said O'Sullivan. "I started laughing at the end of it because I just didn't...what can you say?
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"Even my opponent looked shocked. He looks broken. Yeah, he was just like... because it's 3-3, you know? I've had two 147s. I was playing well. 3-3, I could lose this match.
"To make two 147s in a short match, best of 11, it was amazing, really. This is probably the best I've ever played. It just felt like I couldn't miss. Without a doubt, just being out there playing, competing is great."
O'Sullivan's 147 feats have transcended snooker, with his first in the sport earning £147,000 at the World Championship in 1997 when he cleared the table in a world-record time of only five minutes and eight seconds.
But he conceded he would have swapped that historic moment with Doherty, who picked up £210,000 for defeating Stephen Hendry 18-12 in the Crucible final 28 years ago.
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"I think Hendry said to me after: 'There's more pressure making a 147 than who's winning the actual World Championship'," O'Sullivan continued.
"Because when you win the World Championship, you usually know you've won it before you've won it.
"He said: 'But with that, it's always the last ball'. You know, you're nervous thinking: 'I hope I don't miss now and mess up'.
"As a sportsperson, I've always said it's my least favourite one because I felt there was so many flaws in my game at that time, although I had the 147.
"I just remember I wasn't in a great place in my game then, because it was all about winning tournaments.
"The 147 was a great moment, but for me, I'd rather have been Ken that year, who happened to win the World Championship.
"When the prizes were being given out, Ken was getting the trophy and I was getting a cheque for 147 grand, but I'd have swapped that cheque for that trophy.
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He’s done it again! Watch as O’Sullivan makes second 147 in stunning semi-final showing
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"So in my heart of hearts my game wasn't in a great place. So for me, it was about trying to win the titles - that's what I dreamed of as a kid."
Qualifying for the 49th UK Championship finishes on November 27 in Wigan before the main event is staged at the Barbican in York from November 29 to December 7, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the UK Championship, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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