Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken a swipe at snooker chiefs over the bonus structure for maximum breaks following Zhang Anda’s perfect 147 at the UK Championship.
The seven-time world champion responded sarcastically when informed about the prize money system, saying: “Okay, cool. So one’s not enough? You have got to make two these days to get it?”
“Make them work a bit harder! No free lunch! No free lunch, mate!” O’Sullivan added from the Eurosport commentary studio.
Zhang, who recently changed his nickname from Mighty Mouse to the Snooker Panda, achieved the remarkable feat during frame four of his UK Championship Last 32 match against Lei Peifan.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken a swipe at snooker chiefs over the bonus structure for maximum breaks following Zhang Anda’s perfect 147 at the UK Championship
PA
The Sheffield-based player showed remarkable composure throughout the break.
The world No.11 was met with a standing ovation from the Barbican crowd as he punched the air in celebration before the mid-session interval.
The historic break marks the 208th maximum in professional snooker history.
Zhang Anda hit a terrific 147 at the UK Championship on Tuesday
PA
Zhang is in line for a £15,000 bonus for his maximum break at the UK Championship, though this would need to be shared if another player matches the feat before Sunday evening.
The stakes are even higher for maximum breaks at snooker’s most prestigious events.
Should Zhang achieve a 147 at either the Masters or World Snooker Championship this season, he would be eligible for a substantial £147,000 bonus.
Ronnie O’Sullivan said Zhang Anda’s 147 was ‘perfect’ at the UK Championship
PA
This marks the sixth maximum break of the current snooker season.
O’Sullivan, watching from the commentary box, praised Zhang’s technical excellence during the break.
“That is the perfect 147. He’s never out of position,” the snooker legend remarked.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Player who failed to meet gender regulations over ‘high testosterone’ wins BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year
- Gary Lineker changes career as BBC presenter lands new job in wake of Match of the Day exit
- Judd Trump ‘feels sorry for the older generation’ as snooker stars criticise conditions at UK Championship
He contrasted it with less polished maximum breaks, saying: “Some people are potting blacks from here, reds from here. I’m like, that doesn’t really count.”
O’Sullivan highlighted Zhang’s composure, adding: “When you have got such good positional play, then inside you feel calm. You’re confident you will be on the ball.”
O’Sullivan holds the record for maximum breaks in professional snooker, having achieved his 15th in October 2018.
The Rocket has previously protested against what he considered insufficient prize money for 147s, most notably at the 2016 Welsh Open.
During that tournament, he deliberately turned down a £12,000 bonus by opting to make a 146 break instead.
Five of this season’s six maximum breaks have been achieved by Asian players, with Mark Allen scoring the other at the British Open.