Players have say on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 147 that nearly wasn’t
Following Ronnie O’Sullivan’s refusal to pot the final black to make a 147 maximum break on Monday at the snooker World Open, other players have voiced their opinions on the situation.
O’Sullivan had asked referee Jan Verhaas what the prize-money would be for making a 147, but when he was told there wasn’t any, only just £4,000 for making the highest break, he continued up until the final pink.
He shook hands with Mark King to wrap up a 3-0 win, but Verhaas persuaded him to complete the 147 and pot the black. In doing so, he smashed the black in to make a record 10th maximum of his career.
O’Sullivan insists his refusal wasn’t down to the money, instead saying he was just having “a bit of fun” and wanting to “ruffle a few feathers to get everyone on their toes.”
Reigning world champion Neil Robertson thinks it was great that O’Sullivan had cheekily asked the question in the first place. “To pot one red and black and then ask the referee if there's a 147 prize is pure genius, no other player would have done that,” said the Australian. “He knew there wasn't a prize, he was just setting it up. No one is bigger than the sport but he does make it more attractive when he does something like that,” Robertson added.
Mark Williams also had his say on the 147 madness. “I said when he was on 24 I thought he'd make a maximum,” he said.
“Ronnie's break should stand at 140 because he'd shaken hands [with his opponent, King] before he potted the last black. He should have potted the black without messing around or played safe [if he wanted to make a point]. But that's why people come to watch him, to see what he's going to do,” said Williams.
Every time the Rocket plays, he always gets everyone talking.
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