Sporting Life
Jack Lisowski
Jack Lisowski

Neil Robertson makes 147 maximum break against Jack Lisowski at the Crucible

By Sporting Life
Snooker
Tue April 26, 2022 · 3y ago

Neil Robertson became just the eighth player in snooker history to make a 147 break at the Crucible on Monday night, only to lose 13-12 to Jack Lisowski.

Trailing Lisowski 10-8 in their best-of-25 encounter, Robertson produced a brilliant break and thrust his arms in the air to celebrate upon potting the final black.

Robertson went on to lead the match but despite a huge fluke at the beginning of the deciding frame, he was unable to capitalise and instead left Lisowski with an opportunity to secure one of the biggest wins of his career.

Lisowski needed all three remaining reds to stun the pre-tournament favourite and held his nerve superbly to set up a quarter-final clash with John Higgins.

Robertson enters record books

Robertson's 147 was the 12th maximum in the event's history.

The break is worth a £40,000 bonus (as long as it is not equalled) plus a £7,500 share of the tournament’s £15,000 high break, as Graeme Dott also made a 147 during the qualifying rounds.

It’s the fifth maximum of Robertson’s career and his first since the 2019 Welsh Open. There have now been 176 official 147s in snooker history, and 10 this season.

WHAT A MOMENT! Neil Robertson makes maximum 147 break against Jack Lisowski | Eurosport Snooker

"To make the 147, really one of the most amazing moments I've ever had in my career, and to do it when it mattered, that was unbelievable," said Robertson, who heaped praise on Lisowski for the way he handled the pressure.

"It's on the bucket list of every snooker player, your dream to make one here. I've had the season of dreams, I won three of the biggest events, beat some amazing players. To top it off with a 147 in front of a packed crowd, just the cherry on the cake."

Robertson rallies but Lisowski stands tall

Robertson was in serious trouble having fallen 10-7 behind, only to narrow the deficit to two by pinching the 18th frame on the black.

Then came a fantastic 147 break which could have been pulled from the pages of a textbook.

Robertson's maximum began with a mid-range red before potting the black to return it to its spot. From there, it was regulation stuff for a player at the peak of his powers, as the Thunder from Down Under cast a spell over the Crucible, a venue he's said feels too cramped until the dividing wall goes up ahead of the semi-finals.

His hopes of being there received a massive boost and his 147 bled into the following frame, as Lisowski missed a golden opportunity and then watched on as Robertson levelled the match.

Robertson returned from the break to take frame 21, moving into an 11-10 lead over an opponent very much on the ropes, but Lisowski responded fabulously with a break of 88 featuring an outrageous long red as he continued to play on the front foot.

CLICK THE IMAGE to watch all previous Crucible maximums

Lisowski then missed a vital pot in frame 23, green rattling in the jaws, and Robertson cooly mopped up to move within a frame of the quarter-finals. But Lisowski replied with a gutsy clearance to force the first deciding frame of the tournament.

Robertson couldn't take the first chance as the pressure told, and ironically it was Lisowski laying a snooker which ultimately decided the match, as Robertson could only leave a red hanging over the pocket, an inch short of another fluke.

Lisowski still had work to do, but this time stood tall to reach the last eight along with friend Judd Trump, who beat Anthony McGill 13-11 on the other table.

"Incredible, an amazing feel, an amazing match, I gave it everything I had," said Lisowski. "Just an incredible, incredible match. Neil's the best player in the world at the moment, he was the worst draw for me. I played so well against him last year and he beat me 13-9.

"You can't just keep letting these guys beat you. That's the best feeling I've ever had, because I gave it everything."

Asked whether he felt like he was playing for something bigger than himself, Lisowski, who is quarter Ukranian, claimed that he was not allowed to wear the flag at the Crucible.

"We all know what's going on, and I should have the flag on my waistcoat, but I'm not allowed to wear it for whatever reason. I played tournaments with the badge on, and I felt proud wearing it."

Trump meanwhile was pushed all the way by McGill, who scored heavily throughout the evening session but was never able to get on terms as the 2019 champion scraped his way through to the quarters.

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