By Peter O’Dwyer
Ronnie O’Sullivan is a genius. Admittedly, we’ve known that for a while but lest we forget anytime soon, he offered a timely reminder at the Welsh Open over the weekend.
O’Sullivan scored an incredible maximum 147 to win the Open on a 9-3 score line at the expense of China’s Ding Junhui.
The maximum was the 12th of O’Sullivan’s glittering career; a total that eclipses the record of 11 he jointly held with Stephen Hendry.
In claiming the 26th ranking title of his career O’Sullivan has also moved into third position on the list of all-time most prolific champions; behind Hendry (35) and Steve Davis (28) only.
Typically, the break was delivered in style when O’Sullivan potted the final black left-handed having played predominantly right-handed throughout.
“I have made 11 [maximums] right-handed, so this counts as a left-handed 147. I couldn’t have got on the final black any better,” O’Sullivan told the BBC.
It served as a timely reminder from perhaps the most talented snooker player of them all as to just how good he can be when on form.