Ronnie O’Sullivan goes ‘on strike’ from maximum 147 breaks unless snooker chiefs raise ‘too cheap’ prize money

10 months ago 59

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has revealed he is “on strike” from 147 breaks in snooker until the prize money is increased.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is ‘on strike’ from 147s[/caption]

During the Welsh Open, Gary Wilson hit the 199th 147 break in the history of the sport.

Wilson beat John Higgins in the semi-final in which The Rocket was working as a pundit for Eurosport in Llandudno.

After Wilson’s achievement, O’Sullivan was asked about his record of smashing 147s in the sport.

O’Sullivan, 48, insisted that he could probably hit a few more before he retires.

He said: “I reckon another five or six, but I went on strike a long time ago.”

When asked if he would stay on strike, O’Sullivan insisted that he would until snooker chiefs “start bumping up the prize money“.

It was put to him that if the reward was £147,000, would he start going for 147s again?

O’Sullivan quickly answered: “Yeah”.

In 2016, the Rocket claimed that the prize money for hitting a maximum was “too cheap” so he hit a 146 at the Welsh Open.

Speaking at the time, he said: “I could have got on the black and possibly made a 147.

“I knew it was ten grand and I just thought that’s a bit too cheap, really.

“To make a maxi, it’s such a massive achievement and if they’re going to pay us ten grand, I think it’s worth a bit more than that.

“Once the prize goes up a bit, I’ll go for the 147.

“A 146 is just as good!”

At the World Snooker Championship last year the prize money for a maximum break was £40,000.

O’Sullivan decided not to compete in this year’s Welsh Open as he is managing his health and wellbeing.

It is the seventh ranking tournament this season that he has elected not to take part in.