Joe O’Connor makes 200th 147 maximum in snooker history in reaching final stage of Championship League

Joe O’Connor secured his own little slice of snooker folklore on Thursday by making the 200th competitive 147 of the modern televised professional era and the first of his career.

O’Connor’s big moment came in the third frame of his Championship League Group 7 match with Elliot Slessor on his way to a 3-2 victory over the Welsh Open semi-finalist.

The world No. 30, who turned professional in 2018, also had the chance to complete back-to-back maximums in the same match, but broke down on 72 in the next frame as Slessor hit back to win the frame.

O’Connor then enjoyed a 3-1 win over Slessor in the semi-finals before dumping Jak Jones 3-0 in the final to advance to the winners’ group stage next month boosted by a closing 95.

“These last two days have been unbelievable, first time playing Ronnie, I know he pulled out but it was nice to get a win over him,” said O’Connor, who produced the sixth 147 of the year at the Morningside Arena.

“To get my first maximum break today, I think that’s the first time I’ve been past 70 or 80 this season, I’m so pleased. I was really nervous especially after getting perfect on the blue. I wanted to play it confidentially and I ended up hitting it like a fairy and not landed on the pink. Somehow I managed to get on the black and knock it in.

“Against Jak, who had won seven matches in a row, it was probably exhausting for him, it just looked like he run out of steam and luckily I was able to get over the line.

“I’m over the moon to reach the winners’ group in my debut, I’m really looking forward to it.”

O’Connor joins John Higgins, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Stuart Bingham, Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin in the final winners’ group of the Championship League on March 12.

Jones won Group 7 with six straight wins as Slessor and O’Connor finished second on four points and Jordan Brown fourth on three.

Jones also defeated Brown 3-0 in the other semi-final.

O’Connor’s 147 comes 42 years after six-time world champion Steve Davis made the first 147 against John Spencer at the Lada Classic in Oldham in 1982.