Ronnie O’Sullivan announces he’s ‘on STRIKE’ from going for snooker’s 147 maximum score breaks – because the £40,000 prize money isn’t worth it

If snooker chiefs don’t raise the prize money, Ronnie O’Sullivan has declared he’s going ‘on strike’ from 147 breaks.

Following his announcement last week that he will not be competing in the Welsh Open, which got underway in Llandudno on Monday, O’Sullivan expressed regret to his supporters.

As Gary Wilson made the 199th 147 break in the history of the game, O’Sullivan chose to commentate for Eurosport rather than compete in the tournament.

O’Sullivan responded, “I reckon another five or six, but I went on strike a long time ago,” when questioned about his record of smashing 147s in the sport following the incident, according to The Sun.

The 48-year-old, who has had a fantastic career hitting 15 maximums, then proposed that snooker

When asked if he would try for 147s again if the reward was £147,000, he responded with characteristic bluntness, saying “Yeah.”

O’Sullivan has won an incredible £13.9 million in prizes over his stellar career. He reported winning £876,000 from tournaments in just 2023–2024.

The maximum break prize money in the World Snooker Championship last year was £40,000.

When O’Sullivan learned his prize would have been ‘just’ £10,000. Back in 2016, he declined to finish a 147 at the Welsh Open.

O’Sullivan asked the referee what he would win if he scored 147 when leading Barry Pinches 3-1 and with just 40 points earned in the fifth frame.

After being informed, he proceeded with the red-black pattern until he made the decision to pot the pink following the penultimate red.

O’Sullivan finished the match by eliminating the remainder of the field for a break of 146, advancing to the second round in Cardiff.