What is a 147 Break? 147 Break Betting Explained
Jesse M. Cox Last Verified
19/04/2026
A 147 break is the maximum score that can be achieved by a snooker player in one visit to the table. It is done by potting all of the balls in a particular sequence.
To record a 147 break, the player must pot all 15 reds alternately with 15 blacks to reach 120 points, and then pot the remaining coloured balls in the following order: Yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black, to reach a total of 147.
The term is also often commonly known as a maximum break and is comparable to a nine-dart finish in darts or a hole in one in golf due to the rarity of its occurrence.
Potting a 147 break often lands a professional player an additional financial reward as an added incentive to see the break through even when the frame has been won.
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How is 147 Break used in Sports Betting?
Bookmakers will often run special 147 markets for each upcoming tournament. They may highlight individual matches, as some players are considered more likely to reach a 147 break than others.
An example of placing a 147 break bet would be to back a certain player, such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, who holds the record for fastest 147 break, to achieve a 147 break in any frame during a match.
The stage of the competition effects the number of frames that are likely to be played. This means you may be better off making a 147 break bet in the latter stages of a tournament as the frames needed to win will be higher, thus allowing more chances for a 147 break.
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Did you know…
At the 2016 Welsh Open, controversial but extremely talented five-time snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan refused to pot the black to complete a 147 break after learning the prize money for doing so was 'only' £10,000.
He argued that the prize money was ‘too cheap’ for such as achievement, so he potted the pink instead of the black for a 146 break.
