Ronnie O'Sullivan once controversially scored 146 on purpose as new 'strike' announced for same reason

Ronnie O'Sullivan was once branded "disrespectful" by snooker boss Barry Hearn after he refused to complete a maximum 147 break due to the prize money being too low.

The 48-year-old, who has hit 15 maximums during his career, recently claimed he has been "on strike" from 147 breaks – and won't complete one until the prize money is increased.

After Gary Wilson hit the 199th 147 break in snooker history at this month's Welsh Open, O'Sullivan said he could probably several more before he decides to call it a day.

He said: "I reckon another five or six, but I went on strike a long time ago."

Then, after being asked if he'd go for 147s again if the reward was £147,000, the world number one responded: "Yeah".

As well as making more 147 breaks than any other player in snooker history, O'Sullivan holds the the all-time record of 40 ranking event victories, including seven World Snooker Championships.

But for many, it's Ronnie's personality that brings in the crowds. O'Sullivan continues to win over fans with his antics, both on and off the table.

And back in 2016, he made a point of purposely scoring 146 instead of the maximum 147 break to protest against the money bonus being 'only' £10,000.

O'Sullivan was leading Barry Pinches 3-1 at the Welsh Open when the incident occured.

After making a break of 40, he is said to have asked what the maximum 147 prize was – and it was an amount he found pretty insulting.

He engaged in some pleasantries with the commentators regarding said prize money before purposely leaving the white ball behind the pink at 105.

To the surprise of many, he sank the pink - subsequently making his highest possible score 146 – and started laughing.

Barry Hearn was far from happy with his decision to go for the 146, saying it was "not a crime but a shame" in a post on social media.

"It's up to Ronnie as I don't play his shots for him," he said. "If £10k doesn't mean anything then I'm sorry for him.

"Great entertainers entertain. It's what they were born to do. Money doesn't really come into it.

"Most people don't understand £10k not meaning anything. Fact is we have a lot of 147 breaks and the prize money reflects that. It's a shame that punters who buy tickets and tv fans who watch did not have the pleasure of seeing a maximum break.

"Players have a duty to the fans to deliver the best standard and entertainment they can. Anything less than playing to your best ability is unacceptable and disrespectful to the paying public. This is not a crime but a shame."

Image credit: BBC

Hearn did, however, warm to O'Sullivan's actions. "Without personality and characters, sport dies," he said later that week. "O'Sullivan is the biggest character in the sport."