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‘No free lunch’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan left baffled by snooker bonus rule

Open‘No free lunch’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan left baffled by snooker bonus rule

Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken issue with the maximum break bonus at the UK Championship after Zhang Anda’s perfect 147.

A maximum break is the most amount of points you can score in a single visit to the table which, without fouls as part of the break, is 147.

YORK, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Zhang Anda of China plays a shot in the first round match against Lei Peifan of China on day 4 of the 2024 UK Championship at Barbican Centre on November 26, 2024 in York, England. (Photo by Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images)
The Chinese snooker star has collected a bonus – but it could be halved
GETTY

Zhang achieved the feat in his last 32 match against Lei Peifan on Tuesday, marking the 208th maximum in professional snooker history.

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The 32-year-old is set to earn £15,000 for his 147.

However, this will be shared if another player matches the feat at the tournament.

Expressing his dismay at the rule, seven-time world champion O’Sullivan said on Eurosport: “Okay, cool. So one’s not enough? You have got to make two these days to get it?”

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He added: “Make them work a bit harder! No free lunch! No free lunch, mate!”

The UK Championship’s prize for a maximum is considerably less than other snooker tournaments.

The Masters or World Snooker Championship this season, for example, sees players earn a substantial £147,000 bonus.

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O’Sullivan holds the record for maximum breaks, achieving his 15th in October 2018.

Following him are John Higgins with 13 and Stephen Hendry with 11.

The Brit has previously purposely scored 146, just shy of the maximum, in protest against what he deems as insufficient financial incentive.

O’Sullivan has made his views on the bonus rule clear
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He deliberately turned down a £12,000 bonus at the Welsh Open in 2016.

Zhang won his last 32 clash 6-3. He faces Brit Stuart Bingham in the next round.

O’Sullivan – who crashed out in the first round – praised Zhang for his maximum.

“That is the perfect 147. He’s never out of position,” he said.

“Some people are potting blacks from here, reds from here. I’m like, that doesn’t really count.

“When you have got such good positional play, then inside you feel calm.

“You’re confident you will be on the ball.”

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