When 147s become old hat

Ronnie O'Sullivan is part of the '147 gang'

BBC Sport's Clive Everton looks at the increasing frequency of 147 breaks but points out that there is still one goal no snooker player has achieved.

A total of 41 maximums have been made in snooker's history with 17 coming in the past two years.

The latest by Nick Dyson in the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship at Bournemouth turned his second round match against Rob Milkins, and earned him £5,000 and at least a share of the £1,520 pre-televised high break prize.

Dyson, a 33-year-old journeyman from Stockport, ranked 114th in the world, was trailing 3-0 before his maximum.

He did not allow himself to be carried away by it and went on to win 5-3.

Select group

By no means a household name, Dyson joins six players - Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Cliff Thorburn, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Peter Ebdon, and James Wattana - in the select group that have made two maximums in competition.

Dyson's previous 147 was made last season on the Challenge Tour secondary circuit.

Sunday's maximum was the 24th in five years, the seventh this year, the third this season and the fifth in the 23-year history of the UK Championship.

"I went for it from the first red because the pink and the blue were tied up," said Dyson.

It may sound cocky but when I got to 40 I knew I would make it

  Nick Dyson

"It may sound cocky but when I got to 40 I knew I would make it."

So why are 147's made more frequently these days?

Sufficient numbers

The pockets on championship tables are no easier, but championship cloths are finer and faster.

This assists break-making and less power is needed to open clusters of reds into good positions.

The quality of the cloth makes the cueball more manoeuverable.

But the major difference is in the mind.

Such is the frequency with which they are now being made, the world snooker association, who is responsible for prize money, is finding it harder to insure against maximums either through an insurance company or a bookmaker.

Committed

But beyond the maximum lies a super-maximum - a 155 which requires exceptional circumstances.

A foul stroke must be committed which leaves the non-offender snookered on all 15 reds.

By then nominating an "extra red", taking a black from it and then adding the normal 15 reds, 15 blacks and colours in sequence,the player would complete the 155 break.

Some half-dozen breaks between 148 and 151 have been witnessed in practice.

The only "16 red" in competition was by Steve James in beating Alex Higgins at the 1990 World Championship. James clearance, though, totalled only 135.