Ronnie O'Sullivan hits the highest break in snooker history at World Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan has hit the highest-ever break in professional snooker history, scoring 153 during his World Open quarter-final against Ryan Day.

The break was made possible after Day left him a free ball with his first shot, allowing O'Sullivan to pot a colour as his red to start off his break.

He then potted the black to move on to eight points, before compiling an incredible 145 break to clear the table.

'The Rocket' had potted 14 reds and 13 blacks, but opted to go for the pink twice due to the black being on the bottom cushion.

O'Sullivan actually ended up scoring a total of 169 points, with Day having conceded 16 points in fouls before the break began.

It is the highest break ever recorded in a professional tournament, with 155 the absolute maximum that can be made on a snooker table.

Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh achieved that particular feat in 2021 and it was caught on camera, though it was scored in practice.

Jamie Burnett held the World Snooker Tour record, hitting a 148 break in UK Championship qualifying all the way back in 2004.

One of the most remarkable parts of O'Sullivan's break was actually the final black, which was tied up on the bottom cushion.

But the seven-time champion rolled it in with aplomb, and appeared overjoyed at achieving one of the very few feats that he has never managed during his 34-year professional snooker career.

Despite all he has achieved in his career, even O'Sullivan was left scratching his head at what he had just done when he walked over to Day afterwards.

You can see the full break below, which was broadcast live on TNT Sports' coverage of the World Open:

He now holds the record for both the highest break and the fastest-ever 147 - a landmark that has stood since all the way back in 1997.

Once the match resumed with the second frame, it appeared O'Sullivan had presented Day with a chance to level the scores after missing a long red into the bottom right pocket.

But, after compiling a break of 24, Day missed a black off its spot into the same pocket, allowing 'The Rocket' to get back to the table and go 2-0 in front.

He then extended his advantage to 4-0 in Yushan, before sealing a whitewash 5-0 win to progress to the semi-finals, where he will take on rising Chinese star Wu Yize.

The World Open is O'Sullivan's first tournament since the World Grand Prix at the beginning of February, with the 50-year-old playing a part-time schedule this season.

He is set to qualify for the Tour Championship, which features the top 12 players from the one-year ranking list, if he wins the tournament in Yushan, but he has already said he has no plans to play in that tournament if he qualifies.

The next tournament we will see O'Sullivan play, therefore, will be the World Championship, which gets underway at the Crucible from April 18.

He will enter the Crucible as the number 12 seed, and will be hoping to win his record-breaking eighth world title to move him ahead of Stephen Hendry.

O'Sullivan responds after remarkable 153

Shortly after his record-breaking feat, O'Sullivan posted a message on social media from his taxi as he was returning from the venue in Yushan.

"Just want to say a big shout-out to all the people who have been messaging me, congratulating me on my 153," he said.

"Yeah, it was a pretty cool moment. Really happy to do it.

"Thank you for everyone out there who has supported me. Keep enjoying the snooker in Yushan."