World Championship snooker 2023: Sean O’Sullivan denied 147 maximum after devastating mishap

Compiling a 147 is a rare and unique sporting achievement.

And Sean O’Sullivan was denied that feat during his World Championship qualifying match against David Grace by an unfortunate run of balls.

The 28-year-old, who has never qualified for the main event at the Crucible, was leading 2-0 against world No. 66 Grace and had already compiled 80 in the third frame – 10 reds and 10 blacks – when he sized up an 11th red.

Alas, for him, not only did he drop the 11th red, but also the 12th – in effect meaning his 147 charge had been brought to an end.

Unperturbed, he showed his class and potted the rest of the reds and blacks on offer and followed that up with the colours to produce a 140 total clearance.

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