Ronnie O’Sullivan produced what many consider the standout moment of the 2025/26 snooker season with a remarkable 153 clearance at the World Open in Yushan, a feat that Jimmy White described as extraordinary.
Despite a stop-start season in which he skipped several events, O’Sullivan still grabbed attention whenever he competed. He compiled two maximum 147 breaks in a single match against Chris Wakelin at the Saudi Arabia Masters, but went one better in Yushan with a record-setting 153 against Ryan Day.
While 147 is traditionally the maximum break in snooker, a higher total becomes possible when a foul leaves a free ball. That scenario unfolded when Day fouled, allowing O’Sullivan to treat the green as an extra red before clearing the table potting 16 reds in total along with the colours to set a new benchmark.
White was amazed by the achievement, highlighting how rare and difficult it is to surpass the conventional maximum. He noted the scale of the accomplishment, especially as it came in the opening frame of the tournament, calling it an incredible and typically record-breaking moment from O’Sullivan.
Elsewhere, Jack Lisowski’s maiden ranking title at the Northern Ireland Open stood out as another defining highlight. He edged his close friend Judd Trump 9–8 in a tense final, a victory that Reanne Evans singled out as her personal moment of the season. She emphasized both Lisowski’s long-awaited breakthrough and the emotional weight behind the win.
A less prominent but equally impressive performance came from Chang Bingyu, who delivered a dominant display at the Welsh Open by defeating Shaun Murphy with four century breaks. Alan McManus praised it as one of the finest performances of the campaign, also noting Chang’s additional achievements, including maximum breaks in other major events, underlining his emergence as a serious prospect.
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