ONLY eight maximum breaks of 147 have been racked up at the world snooker championships in The Crucible, but the two posted by Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter within 24 magical hours, perhaps proves that practice makes perfect for the modern-day generation of players.
In O'Sullivan's case, his 147 can probably be attributed more to natural genius than any other factor, the professional attitude shown by today's top players has helped make maximum breaks more commonplace in recent years.
After Cliff Thorburn
's emotional 147 in front of a spellbound live television audience in 1983, nine years elapsed before Jimmy White emulated the Canadian against Tony Drago. Stephen Hendry was the next to succeed on the world stage in 1995, before a fresh-faced O'Sullivan gave an early indication of his talent with a 147 in 1997. The 'Rocket' repeated his feat six years later, and before this week's double, Mark Williams had joined the elite group in 2005.
The sponsors' bonus prize of £147,000 for any player who achieved a maximum break often went untouched, but these days it looks a matter of when and not if it is secured during a world championships.
Carter, who celebrated his historic maximum, by wrapping up a 13-9 victory over Peter Ebdon yesterday, said: "I watched the break again on TV last night, I was keen to see the celebration because I was quite pleased to say the least."
Asked if O'Sullivan had said anything about seeing his £157,000 maximum bonus (which includes £10,000 for the top break of the tournament) cut in half, Carter joked: "He just said "It's 80 large each? Cheers!"
Ebdon also paid tribute to his opponent and his maximum. "The 147 was a fantastic break and I was absolutely thrilled for him," said the 2002 champion. "He is a really nice guy and one of the players I go out to dinner with and share a bottle of red."
Carter, 28, from Essex will now contest his first Crucible semi-final against either Stephen Maguire or Joe Perry.
The other semi-final will see seven-time champion Stephen Hendry take on either O'Sullivan or China's Liang Wenbo.
Hendry completed a comfortable 13-7 victory over Wales' Ryan Day while O'Sullivan holds an 11-5 lead over qualifier Liang and needed to win just two more frames in last night's session. Hendry, who came into the championship as a 33-1 outsider but has now reached a record 12th semi-final, his first since 2004, is in contention for a first title since 1999.
"It's fantastic," said the 39-year-old. "I was not coming in here with any great form under my belt with just one semi-final this season, but I knew if I could get past the first round anything could happen.
"If you look back at the record I've had here (six wins in seven years from 1990] it can give you nothing but confidence.
"To be 7-1 up after the first session was unexpected but last night was probably the worst session I've played here."
SPORTING PERFECTIONFIFTEEN reds, 15 black balls, then the yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black – the maximum break in snooker of 147 – but where does it rank alongside feats of sporting perfection?
A hole in one at golf, a nine-dart finish, or the perfect hat-trick in football, consisting of goals scored with the left foot, right and head, can all lay claim to being the ultimate achievement in their respective sports, but which is the pick of the bunch?
Snooker's 147 may just have the edge. Given the minimal margins for the error, and the intense concentration levels needed, it is no surprise there have been so few maximum breaks.
A hole in one at golf can often be attributed to luck, and is something an amateur can dream of, while the nine-dart finish consists of 'only' nine throws and the perfect hat-trick depends on the contributions of others.
It provokes a lively debate. Have your say at
www.scotsman.comCRUCIBLE 147s1983: Cliff Thorburn
1992: Jimmy White
1995: Stephen Hendry
1997: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2003: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2005: Mark Williams
2008: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2008: Ali Carter
