"Fun" Facts

The yellow is the only ball that can be potted legally in 3 consecutive shots. Yellow taken as a free ball with only one red remaining.  Plant the yellow onto the red potting both, 2 points scored (one for the red and one for the yellow as a free ball red) and the yellow is re-spotted.  Pot the yellow as the colour (re-spot it again) and then yellow before going onto the green.

We all know that the highest possible break is actually 155 with a free ball (I'm not counting the Golden ball 167).  There is grainy security footage of Thepchaiya Un-Nooh completing a 17 black clearance in practice (others may have done it).  He took the black as his free ball "red", followed by black and the regulation 15 red/blacks + colours.

Some people think the lowest total clearance is 72 (15 x red - yellows = 45 plus the colours 27).  But it is possible to pot more than one red per shot.  Therefore the theoretical minimum clearance is 44 - all 15 reds in one shot, followed by a yellow and then the colours.  There's more chance of winning the lottery.

The lowest total clearance in a professional frame is believed to be a 109 by Mark Allen.

The lowest possible completed frame score is 16 points to 8 - again theoretical and more likely to win the lottery.  Player A pots all 15 reds in one shot but also goes in off (0-4).  A few shots later Player A pots the yellow and green (5-4).  Player B pots the brown (5-8).  Player A pots the blue and pink, frame over (16-8).

The ratified world record for clearing the colours is 17.52 seconds by James Silverwood.  The guy from "A Break From Life" Youtube channel (whoever he is 😁) has also done it in 17.52 seconds but I don't think it was sent for ratification.

Most people know that the fastest 147 was achieved by Ronnie O'Sullivan in a time of 5 mins 8s.  But did you know the fastest ever professional century was made by Tony Drago in 3mins 31s.

This would also have been the fastest "scored" frame in history also as I believe John Higgins mucked up the break and Tony cleared up - so probably around 3mins 40sec.

The quickest frame was around 1min 40secs when Alfie Burden fouled 3 times on the break against Matt Selt - 3 misses when you are not snookered = forfeit of frame.