I’ve been watching Ronnie O’Sullivan for most of my adult life, and I’ll be honest – I thought I’d seen it all. Seven world titles, countless centuries, and more natural talent with a cue in hand than anyone else who’s ever chalked up. But even by his ridiculous standards, what he pulled off at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters last week was something else.
Two 147s in a single session. Let that sink in. Not one maximum, but two, and in the same sitting. On top of that, he clocked up his 1,300th career century. And if that wasn’t enough, he did it at 49 years old, making him the oldest player ever to knock in an official maximum. People always say “form is temporary, class is permanent” – Ronnie is living proof.
Now, he didn’t actually win the tournament. Neil Robertson got the better of him in the final the next day, and fair play to the Aussie for holding his nerve. But the fact O’Sullivan stole all the headlines without lifting the trophy says everything about the scale of what we’d just witnessed.
The GOAT at Work
There’s something about watching Ronnie when he’s in full flow. He doesn’t just pot balls – he glides around the table like he owns it. One of those 147s looked like he could have done it blindfolded. The speed, the accuracy, the shot choices… there’s no hesitation, no doubt. It’s why he’s the game’s biggest draw and why, even at his age, crowds still lean forward every time he bends over the table.
Ronnie O’Sullivan.
No other words are necessary 🐐 🚀 pic.twitter.com/9poxhsdq2C
— SnookerInfo (@SnookerInfo147) August 15, 2025
And the thing is, snooker isn’t supposed to be kind to older players. The concentration, the mental stamina, the hours of practice – it grinds people down. Yet here’s Ronnie, approaching 50, still rewriting the record books. If anything, he seems to be enjoying it more these days. Maybe he’s more relaxed, maybe he knows he doesn’t have to prove anything anymore. Whatever it is, it’s working.
What It Means for Snooker
The Saudi Masters was always going to be a big-money event, with plenty of eyes on it thanks to the sport’s expansion into the Middle East. But Ronnie turning back the clock like that gave it an extra shine. You can’t buy the kind of attention he brings. Kids who’ve never picked up a cue will have seen those highlights and thought, “I want to try that.”
That’s huge for snooker. For years people have talked about whether the sport is struggling for new stars or fresh energy. But the truth is, the old master is still the one pulling the biggest crowds. He doesn’t just keep snooker relevant – he elevates it.
From a Punter’s Angle
I said at the start that I wouldn’t make this all about betting, and I won’t. But you can’t ignore the fact that performances like that send ripples through the markets. When Ronnie’s on fire, punters notice. Bookies notice. Outright odds shorten in a flash, and suddenly the “old guy” isn’t seen as a sentimental bet – he’s the favourite again.
There’s a lesson there. Sometimes, sticking with the old guard pays off. Everyone’s quick to back the young guns, the next big thing, the lad tipped to dominate for a decade. But snooker doesn’t always work like that. Experience counts. Nerves of steel count. And Ronnie’s got more of both than anyone else still playing.
Now, would I say to pile in on him every time he enters a tournament? No. He’s unpredictable, and he can go cold just as quickly as he gets hot. But when you see that glint in his eye, when he’s smiling as he clears the table – that’s when punters should be paying attention.
Neil Robertson Deserves His Due
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It would be unfair to ignore the fact that Neil Robertson beat him in the final. Ronnie stole the headlines, but Robertson walked away with the trophy. He’s another seasoned pro, another one people sometimes write off too quickly. For the Aussie, beating Ronnie on the back of that kind of performance is no small thing. It shows he’s still a force as well.
And that’s part of the beauty of snooker at the moment. The so-called “old boys” are still mixing it with the best, still producing the goods, still shaping the markets. Punters who overlook them do so at their peril.
Ronnie O’Sullivan doesn’t need more accolades. He doesn’t need more records. But he keeps making them anyway. Two maximums in a session and a milestone century tally would have been dream achievements for any other player’s entire career. For Ronnie, it was just another week at the office.
What he showed in Saudi is that age is just a number when you’ve got the kind of talent and mentality he does. For punters, it’s a reminder not to underestimate experience. And for the sport of snooker, it’s another chapter in the story of the greatest player we’ll ever see.
He may not have lifted the trophy this time, but in the eyes of fans – and a fair few punters – Ronnie O’Sullivan was still the main event.