Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong Hit 147s on Same Day — But How Much More Did GOAT Ronnie O’Sullivan Earn for His Record Double?

Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong Hit 147s on Same Day — But How Much More Did GOAT Ronnie O’Sullivan Earn for His Record Double?

 

 

In a remarkable display of snooker mastery, China’s rising stars Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong both compiled maximum 147 breaks on the same day at the 2026 Championship League in Leicester, highlighting the increasing frequency of perfect clearances in the modern game. But while the feats by Wu and Xiao were impressive, they pale in financial reward compared to a historic achievement by snooker’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT), Ronnie O’Sullivan.

On January 22, 2026, Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong were among four players to produce maximum breaks at the invitational Championship League — Wu’s first career 147 coming in a 3-1 victory over Oliver Lines, and Xiao’s third overall coming in a narrow 3-2 success. A 147 break represents the maximum score possible in a single frame — potting all 15 reds with blacks followed by all six colours. Though it’s become more common in recent seasons, it remains one of snooker’s greatest single-frame achievements.

For their efforts in Leicester, Wu and Xiao will share a modest £500 high-break prize, receiving just £250 each. The Championship League’s more modest prize structure reflects its invitational and lower-tier status compared with major ranking events.

By contrast, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record-breaking double maximums at the 2025 Saudi Arabia Masters resulted in a huge financial bonus. In August 2025, O’Sullivan became the first player ever to make two 147 breaks in the same session of a professional match, hitting perfect clearances in both the opening and seventh frames of a semifinal against Chris Wakelin.

For that performance, O’Sullivan earned a £147,000 bonus tied to the Triple Crown-linked rolling 147 prize — a literal reward of £1,000 for each point of a maximum break. Beyond standard high-break awards, this bonus sits on top of any tournament prize money he would collect for progressing deep into the event.

O’Sullivan’s feat wasn’t just lucrative: it was historic. Alongside the significant payday, his double 147 extended his career total to 17 official maximum breaks — the most by any player in professional snooker — and made him the oldest player to compile a 147 in competition at 49 years and 253 days.

The contrast between Wu and Xiao’s earnings and O’Sullivan’s windfall highlights how snooker’s financial incentives vary drastically depending on the event and the significance of the accomplishment. While the sport has seen an explosion in 147s — with a record 20 maximum breaks in the 2025/26 season so far — few have had the same historical weight as O’Sullivan’s double at Jeddah.

As snooker’s global profile grows, the sport continues to balance the celebration of emerging talents like Wu and Xiao with recognition of enduring legends like O’Sullivan — and the financial rewards that come with breaking records.