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All time great breaks

Postby Badsnookerplayer

Wondered if people would post their favourite breaks. Probably the Alex Higgins 69 break is the most famous but what are your personal favourites of all time.

One of my favourites is Ronnie O'Sullivan versus Ali Carter in 2012 WC final. The initial set-up is impossibly challenging and his cue-ball control is (in my opinion) as good as it gets:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLk71tnNxOU

Please post a link if you can and thanks in advance

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Alex0paul

Dott's 68 clearance to go 17-14 up in the 2006 WC final for me

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Badsnookerplayer

Alex0paul wrote:Dott's 68 clearance to go 17-14 up in the 2006 WC final for me

Love that - thanks A0P. I did not even remember that break but have just watched it and the tension was scary but the 'wee man' showed nerves of steel. It was nice to see his dad (I presume) in a state of meltdown as he got close to the clearance. Really enjoyed that.

Could only find one with a foreign commentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJwgB351Br4

A lovely moment and 7 minutes well spent!

Re: All time great breaks

Postby eraserhead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdaJmkJUo5I This break by Ding. How he gets to the black off the last red plus the blue and pink :spot on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvlzSBPFUsE This counter clearance from Ronnie, opening red is great but compare this frame with the decider against Luca, one chance with 5 points to play with and took it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwUmz3KfEfk Bingham misses frame ball and Hamilton clinches frame and match.

These are all from recent memory but all incredible breaks limited by the score and the pressure to win the match with Ronnie and Anthony. I also like Ronnie's 147 against Mark King for pure confidence, arrogance and entertainment.

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Alex0paul

Higgins' clearance in the Masters Final of 2006 deserves a mention

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Badsnookerplayer

eraserhead wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdaJmkJUo5I This break by Ding. How he gets to the black off the last red plus the blue and pink :spot on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvlzSBPFUsE This counter clearance from Ronnie, opening red is great but compare this frame with the decider against Luca, one chance with 5 points to play with and took it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwUmz3KfEfk Bingham misses frame ball and Hamilton clinches frame and match.

These are all from recent memory but all incredible breaks limited by the score and the pressure to win the match with Ronnie and Anthony. I also like Ronnie's 147 against Mark King for pure confidence, arrogance and entertainment.


Great clearance by Ding. Last red to black was incredible.

In the second clip, Ronnie's pink into the centre was phenomenal.

Hadn't seen Hamilton's clearance before. Class.

Thanks Eraser

Re: All time great breaks

Postby PLtheRef

In the usual surroundings there's normally the suggestion of Dennis Taylor's 7 at the end of the 1985 Crucible Final.

I think in terms of the pressure of the situation I think the two Higgins' breaks are probably the two best of all time. Both of them came in the situation where they wouldn't get another chance if they made another mistake. Both had moments where the break looked in danger (Alex's struggles to get control of the early break,and John's red to the right middle that only just reached the pocket)

The nature of a thread like this is that the possibilities and contenders are endless as this thread has already shown.

Ronnie's 147?
Hendry's 58 clearance to take the deciding frame against White in 1994?

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Alex0paul

Ebdon's break to go from 14-16 to 16-16 verses Stevens in 2002 aswell as the break in frame 35th verses Hendry moments after missing a simple black for the title

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Badsnookerplayer

Who can forget Pinkball's legendary break:
Red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, pink, red, pink, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black, sexy dance.

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Pink Ball

Badsnookerplayer wrote:Who can forget Pinkball's legendary break:
Red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, pink, red, pink, red, black, red, black, red, black, red, black, yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black, sexy dance.

Yes. That was a good one.

Re: All time great breaks

Postby Alex0paul

Badsnookerplayer wrote:
Alex0paul wrote:Ebdon's break to go from 14-16 to 16-16 verses Stevens in 2002 aswell as the break in frame 35th verses Hendry moments after missing a simple black for the title


It is here at 1:19 ish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4ktNgJX5rM


I am glad you posted that as I lost my copy of the match on DVD. I think the two semis and final that year probably go down as the best climax to a Championship