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At what point does a maximum become a 180? When it's Ronnie O'Sullivan, writing more history. That's when.

In a season when snooker's 147, once viewed as elusive as the Himalayan Yeti, has repeatedly shown up on television, it fell to O'Sullivan to show that no one does it better. Sinking his second maximum in barely two hours at the a recent tournament in August, O'Sullivan earned a historic £180,333 in bonuses.

As his half-century milestone approaches in December, O'Sullivan maintains an daring streak that sets him apart. Nearly three decades after his legendary five-minute 147 at the Crucible, he remains must-see entertainment.

But O'Sullivan, who starts his quest for a unprecedented ninth title, is in good company in knowing the route to a maximum. There have been an staggering 25 so far on the professional tour in 2025, smashing the calendar year best of 14.

'Everyone on the tour now could make one'

"Picture Moira Stuart in 1983 coming on the Six O'Clock News and informing the nation Cliff Thorburn's had a 147 at the Crucible. It would now get overlooked because it's just like, 'oh, there's been another 147'."

That's the verdict of Shaun Murphy, fourth on the historical rankings with 10 maximums. He has a point. Thorburn's maximum was a defining moment for 1983's television viewer. It was only the second official maximum, with Steve Davis achieving the first. Davis' prize? One of the sponsor's cars.

There were just 8 147s across the entire 1980s, a snooker decade full of theatrical storylines and larger-than-life personalities. For pure technical standard, nothing touches the current one.

"Players are chasing their career records and the tour is offering incentives out there," notes Murphy. "Players are more aware of these challenges. They're practising for them."

Legendary figures like Alex Higgins never had a maximum break on tour. Nor did fellow world champions. Yet promising talent Aaron Hill made a pair inside four weeks. The 23-year-old is amazed that Higgins never had one.

Hill states: "There are a lot of players who are still waiting. It was always a goal to have my name on the board. The buzz is great. Everyone on the tour now could make one. We're almost expecting one in every tournament. It's everyone egging each other on."

What is the secret to a 147?

"I think if there is a knack to it, it's seeing it early," explains Shaun Murphy. "If you come to the table early and take a couple of reds and a couple of blacks, and you see the black's available to both pockets... we all think 'hang on a minute, there's a 147 on here'.

"I remain proud of the one I made in the Shoot Out because I tried to make it from the very first pot. To have the personal challenge and then get it in the pressure cooker of the Shoot Out was pretty special."

Murphy describes the special feeling: "When you're on a maximum, everyone in the room knows it and it intensifies their attention. Everyone's focus zooms in on you." Is the 147 losing their magic? "I don't think so."

What's next if the 147 code has been cracked?

• Snooker is waiting for its first official maximum by a woman. The Chinese player Bai Yulu compiled a 145 at a recently held championship.
• Two 147s in the same match has been achieved. Two in back-to-back frames next?
• The one-five-five (a 147 plus eight points from a free-ball scenario at the start) has yet to be made in tournament play. Footage exists of a player making one in practice.
• The 167 is "probably the next step," says Murphy, referring to a new format involving a golden ball for a massive financial prize.

The chase for the record is on

Murphy suggests the surge of maximums is easily explained. "My belief is everyone's getting better. Some of the players down the rankings that the average fan have never heard of, on their day they can beat anyone."

The ever-higher "standard and reliability of playing conditions" is also cited as a factor. But in the end, the players are the ones sinking the balls.

Hill now owns two maximums. O'Sullivan holds the record of 17. "Look out Ronnie, he's coming for you." It is said in jest, but Hill welcomes the challenge.

"At the end of my career, I believe I'll be ranked highly with maximum breaks," he says. At the very least, players now go about their daily business with the thought that the next frame is rich in promise.

Pot the red, follow with the black. Again and again.