View source for Century break

{{short description|Achievement in snooker}}
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[[File:Ronnie O’Sullivan at German Masters Snooker Final (DerHexer) 2012-02-05 45.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] (pictured) has scored the most century breaks in professional snooker tournaments at more than 1,200.]]

In [[snooker]], a '''century break''' (also '''century''', sometimes called a '''ton''') is a {{Cuegloss|break}} of 100 points or more, compiled in one {{Cuegloss|Visit|visit}} to the table. A century break requires potting at least 25 consecutive balls, and the ability to score centuries is regarded as a mark of the highest skill in snooker. [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] has described a player's first century break as the "ultimate milestone for any snooker player".<ref name="rise of century"/> [[Joe Davis]] made the first televised century break in 1962.

O'Sullivan holds the record for the most career centuries in professional competition, with over 1,200. Three players have reached the milestone of 1,000 career century breaks: O'Sullivan attained it at the [[2019 Players Championship (snooker)|2019 Players Championship]], followed by [[John Higgins]] at the [[2024 English Open (snooker)|2024 English Open]] and [[Judd Trump]] at the [[2024 British Open]]. Overall, 14 players have surpassed 500 career centuries in professional competition. Trump holds the record for the most century breaks in a single season, having made 107 in the [[2024–25 snooker season|2024–25 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2025 |title=Trump sets new centuries record |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/april/29/Trump-Sets-New-Centuries-Record/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=World Snooker Tour |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=Evergreen Williams knocks out Trump |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/may/03/Evergreen-Williams-Knocks-Out-Trump/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=World Snooker Tour |language=en}}</ref> He and [[Neil Robertson]], who made 103 centuries in the [[2013–14 snooker season|2013–14 season]], are the only players to have achieved 100 or more century breaks in one season; Trump is the only player to have accomplished the feat twice, having previously achieved it in the [[2019–20 snooker season|2019–20 season]], when he made 102 centuries. The most centuries by a player in a professional match is seven, a record held jointly by [[Stephen Hendry]], [[Ding Junhui]], and Trump. [[Tony Drago]] made the fastest recorded century in tournament play at the [[1996 UK Championship (snooker)|1996 UK Championship]], when he took 3&nbsp;minutes and 31&nbsp;seconds to score 100 points. 
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== Rules ==
[[Image:Snooker table drawing 2.svg|thumb|[[Billiard table#Snooker tables|Snooker table]] with balls placed in their starting positions]]

A century {{Cuegloss|break|break}} is a score of 100 points or more within one {{Cuegloss|Visit|visit}} to the table.<ref>{{cite news |first=Liam |last=Fitzgibbon |title=Neil Robertson makes century of snooker 100s |date=1 May 2014 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/neil-robertson-makes-century-of-snooker-100s-20140501-zr28u.html |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref> The player does this by potting {{Cuegloss|Red ball|red balls}} and {{Cuegloss|Colour ball|coloured balls}} alternately, where the coloured balls are repositioned on their starting locations. After repositioning the coloured ball paired to the last red on the table, the six coloured balls are potted in order of their increasing value. Because a break is defined as series of consecutive {{Cuegloss|pot|pots}} by a player during a single {{Cuegloss|frame}},<ref name="BCA">{{cite book |author=BCA Rules Committee |title=Billiards: The Official Rules and Record Book |publisher=Billiard Congress of America |location=Iowa City, IA, US |date=November 1992 |isbn=1-878493-02-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/billiards00bill }}</ref> scoring 100 points over the course of a whole frame does not necessarily constitute a century break, as it must be done on a single turn at the table. Points for a foul shot by the opponent do not count in a player's break.

Under normal circumstances, the highest possible century in snooker is 147 (a "[[maximum break]]"), composed of 15 reds (one point each), 15 blacks (seven points each) and the six remaining colours; yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black potted consecutively (two through seven points each for a total of 27). If for example only the least-valued colour (yellow, two points) would be used instead of the black ball, the break value would only be 72 points. This means that only a single century break is possible in a {{Cuegloss|free ball|frame}} of snooker under a limited number of combinations, but it requires the potting of at least 25 consecutive balls (10 x (1 + 7) + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 100).<ref name="rise of century"/> To score one, there must be at least ten reds on the table when the player comes to play since if there are only nine reds left, only 99 (= 9 × (1 + 7) + 27) points may be scored. An exception exists if the opponent {{Cuegloss|Foul|fouls}} and leaves the incoming player {{Cuegloss|Snooker|snookered}} on all the remaining reds. In such a situation, the player can nominate one of the other {{Cuegloss|Colour ball|colours}} as a red, known as a "{{Cuegloss|free ball}}", which carries the same value as a red for just that shot, and therefore, a century break is still possible with only nine reds left.

[[155 break|Breaks above 147]] are possible (up to 155) when an opponent fouls and leaves a {{Cuegloss|free ball}} with all fifteen reds still remaining on the table, creating a situation identical to as if there were 16 red balls on the table. This has happened only once in professional competition, when [[Jamie Burnett]] made a 148 at the qualifying stage of the [[2004 UK Championship (snooker)|2004 UK Championship]].<ref name="burnettguardian">{{cite web|last=Everton|first=Clive|title=Burnett's break goes one better|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/oct/18/snooker.cliveeverton|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=9 May 2012|date=18 October 2004}}</ref>

A "century of centuries" refers to a total of 100 breaks of at least 100 points each.<ref name="rise of century"/> By December 2001, only 15 players had reached this milestone in professional snooker tournaments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/1713512.stm|title=Century king Ronnie|last=Everton|first=Clive|work=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2001|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref> With the increased occurrence of centuries compiled in professional competition in the past decades,<ref name="rise of century"/> another 27 players had achieved a "century of centuries" by October 2011, bringing the total to 42.<ref name="Leading century makers">{{cite web|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Centuries.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308120937/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Centuries.htm |archive-date=8 March 2013 |work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk |publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |title=Snooker's Leading Century Makers|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> By the end of the [[2013–14 snooker season|2013–14 season]], the total number of players reaching the 100 centuries threshold had increased to 52.<ref>{{cite web |work=World Snooker |title=Robertson Wins / Makes Historic Century |date=30 April 2014 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3797700,00.html |access-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002731/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3797700%2C00.html |archive-date=2 May 2014 }}</ref> In October 2018, there were 66 players that had reached the 100 century breaks marker.<ref name="Century Break">{{cite web|url=http://www.rkgsnooker.com/break/century-break|title=Century Break |work= RKG Snooker |date=17 October 2018|access-date=17 October 2018}}</ref> As of January 2025, there are 86 players with 100 or more career centuries.<ref>{{cite web |title=100+ Centuries |url=https://snookerinfo.co.uk/ |website=snookerinfo.co.uk |access-date=9 January 2025 |archive-date=9 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109121804/https://snookerinfo.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Players with 500 or more==
<!-- Update this list, only if you provide reliable sources. Please do not update the century counts using fansites such as CueTracker, Pro Snooker Blog, RKG Snooker and Snooker Scene Blog. Snooker statistics must cite reliable sources from reputable publishers (see WP:RS). Fansites do not meet this criterion due to being self-published (see WP:SPS). -->
The following players are reported to have made 500 confirmed century breaks in professional competition, and at least the given threshold above this.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Threshold<!-- Please do not change the increments.these are thresholds the players have reached, not their exact century counts. -->
! Player
! Date threshold reached
! Tournament
|-
! rowspan=1 | 1,200
| data-sort-value="O'Sullivan" | {{flagathlete|[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]]|ENG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2023|04|22}}<ref name="O'Sullivan_1200">{{cite news |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan rockets past Hossein Vafaei at Crucible with session to spare |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/22/ronnie-osullivan-rockets-past-hossein-vafaei-at-crucible-with-session-to-spare |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 April 2023 |access-date=20 September 2024 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422233915/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/22/ronnie-osullivan-rockets-past-hossein-vafaei-at-crucible-with-session-to-spare |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2023 World Snooker Championship|2023 World Championship]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | 1,000
| data-sort-value="Higgins" | {{flagathlete|[[John Higgins]]|SCO}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2024|09|19}}<ref name="Higgins_1000">{{cite news |title=Higgins hits 1,000th century in English Open defeat |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/articles/c4gqw66506jo |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920053357/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/articles/c4gqw66506jo |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2024 English Open (snooker)|2024 English Open]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Trump" | {{flagathlete|[[Judd Trump]]|ENG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2024|09|27}}<ref name="Trump_1000">{{cite web |title=Trump joins 1,000 club |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/september/27/trump-joins-1-000-club/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=27 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024 |archive-date=27 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927192745/https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/september/27/trump-joins-1-000-club/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2024 British Open]]
|-
! rowspan=1 | 900
| data-sort-value="Robertson" | {{flagathlete|[[Neil Robertson]]|AUS}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2023|09|01}}<ref name="Robertson_900">{{cite web |title=Robertson makes 900th century |date=1 September 2023 |url=https://wst.tv/robertson-makes-900th-century/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901172524/https://wst.tv/robertson-makes-900th-century/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 September 2023 |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>
| [[2023 Wuhan Open (snooker)|2023 Wuhan Open]]
|-
! 800
| data-sort-value="Selby" | {{flagathlete|[[Mark Selby]]|ENG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2024|01|22}}<ref name="Selby_800">{{cite web |title=Selby wins with landmark moment |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/january/22/world-open-quals-day-one/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=22 January 2024 |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123024331/https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/january/22/world-open-quals-day-one/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2024 World Open (snooker)|2024 World Open]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | 700
| data-sort-value="Hendry" style="background:#d3d3d3;" | {{flagathlete|[[Stephen Hendry]]|SCO}} (<small>777</small><sup>{{dagger}}</sup>)<ref name="Hendry_777">{{cite web |title=SnookerInfo: Centuries & Stats |url=https://snookerinfo.co.uk/ |website=snookerinfo.co.uk |access-date=13 August 2024 |archive-date=13 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813031746/https://snookerinfo.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|01|30}}<ref name="Hendry_700">{{cite news |title=Hendry reaches century milestone |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=30 January 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/6315465.stm |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=15 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315034012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6315465.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2007 Malta Cup]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Murphy" | {{flagathlete|[[Shaun Murphy]]|ENG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2025|02|24}}<ref name="Murphy_700">{{cite web |title=Weide Cup World Open day two |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/february/24/weide-cup-world-open-day-two/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=24 February 2025 |access-date=24 February 2025 |archive-date=24 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224162352/https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/february/24/weide-cup-world-open-day-two/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2025 World Open (snooker)|2025 World Open]]
|-
! rowspan=4 | 600
| data-sort-value="Ding" | {{flagathlete|[[Ding Junhui]]|CHN}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2022|11|13}}<ref name="Ding_600">{{cite web |title=Defeats for big seeds in UK Championship |url=https://snookerhq.com/2022/11/14/defeats-big-seeds-uk-championship/ |website=snookerhq.com |first=David |last=Caulfield |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=13 March 2025 |archive-date=3 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241103055238/https://snookerhq.com/2022/11/14/defeats-big-seeds-uk-championship/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2022 UK Championship]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Williams" | {{flagathlete|[[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]]|WAL}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2023|09|21}}<ref name="Williams_600">{{cite web |title=2023 International Championship Qualifiers |url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1473 |website=snooker.org |date=23 September 2023 |access-date=14 January 2025 |archive-date=14 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114065031/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1473 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2023 International Championship]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Allen" | {{flagathlete|[[Mark Allen (snooker player)|Mark Allen]]|NIR}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2024|02|13}}<ref name="Allen_600">{{cite web |title=Mark Allen compiles milestone century in Welsh Open win |url=https://snookerhq.com/2024/02/14/mark-allen-compiles-milestone-century-welsh-open-win/ |website=snookerhq.com |first=David |last=Caulfield |date=14 February 2024 |access-date=11 March 2025 |archive-date=15 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215172955/https://snookerhq.com/2024/02/14/mark-allen-compiles-milestone-century-welsh-open-win/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2024 Welsh Open (snooker)|2024 Welsh Open]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Bingham" | {{flagathlete|[[Stuart Bingham]]|ENG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2025|01|10}}<ref name="Bingham_600">{{cite web |title=2025 Championship League: Group 4 |url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=2112 |website=snooker.org |date=11 January 2025 |access-date=11 January 2025 |archive-date=14 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114071420/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=2112 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2025 Championship League (invitational)|2025 Championship League]]
|-
! rowspan=3 | 500
| data-sort-value="Fu" | {{flagathlete|[[Marco Fu]]|HKG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2019|12|12}}<ref name="Fu_500">{{cite web |title=2019 Scottish Open |website=snooker.org |url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=848 |access-date=29 November 2023 |archive-date=29 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229154658/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=848 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2019 Scottish Open (snooker)|2019 Scottish Open]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Maguire" | {{flagathlete|[[Stephen Maguire]]|SCO}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2023|10|20}}<ref name="Maguire_500">{{cite web |title=2023 Northern Ireland Open qualifiers |url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1474 |website=snooker.org |date=20 October 2023 |access-date=14 January 2025 |archive-date=30 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130154032/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=1474 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2023 Northern Ireland Open]]
|-
| data-sort-value="Wilson" | {{flagathlete|[[Kyren Wilson]]|ENG}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|2025|02|11}}<ref name="Wilson_500">{{cite news |title=500-up for world champion Kyren Wilson as he edges into Welsh Open second round |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sport/500-up-for-world-champion-kyren-wilson-as-he-edges-into-welsh-open-second-round-4986795 |work=Northamptonshire Telegraph |first=Jeremy |last=Casey |date=12 February 2025 |access-date=18 February 2025 |archive-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213193812/https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sport/500-up-for-world-champion-kyren-wilson-as-he-edges-into-welsh-open-second-round-4986795 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[2025 Welsh Open (snooker)|2025 Welsh Open]]
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | Key
|-
| style="background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |<sup>{{{{dagger}}|alt=Retired}}</sup>
|Exact total for a retired player.
|}

==Records==
===Career===
*[[Joe Davis]] compiled the first televised century break in 1962.<ref name="rise of century">{{Cite news |work=[[BBC Sport]] |first=Steve|last=Davis|title=The rise of snooker's century breaks |date=7 January 2015 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/30599646 |access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref>
* The record for the most century breaks scored in official tournament play has been held by [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] since January 2015, when he broke the record of 775 career centuries previously held by [[Stephen Hendry]].<ref name="new record">{{cite web|first=Shamoon|last=Hafez|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/snooker/30831845|title=Masters 2015: Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks Stephen Hendry's record|work=BBC Sport|date=15 January 2015|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>
* The first player to have recorded 1,000 centuries in public performance is [[Horace Lindrum]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hayton |first=Eric |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker |year=2004 |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |location=Suffolk |isbn=978-0-9548549-0-4 |page=5}}</ref> Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, and Judd Trump are the only players to have compiled more than 1,000 century breaks in professional competition. O'Sullivan was the first to do so, having achieved his 1,000th century at the [[2019 Players Championship (snooker)|2019 Players Championship]] on 10&nbsp;March 2019.<ref name="millenial man">{{cite web |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan – The Millennial Man |url=https://wst.tv/ronnie-osullivan-the-millennial-man/ |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |date=10 March 2019 |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220173139/https://wst.tv/ronnie-osullivan-the-millennial-man/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Stacey Hillyard]] became the first female player to record a competitive century in January 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/snooker/on-this-week-nugget-147_sto2179445/story.shtml |title=On This Week: Steve Davis hits first televised 147 |work=Eurosport |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=20 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715022451/http://www.eurosport.com/snooker/on-this-week-nugget-147_sto2179445/story.shtml |archive-date=15 July 2015 |url-status=dead |quote=Stacey Hillyard made a break of 114, the first century by a woman in competitive play, in a league match in Bournemouth.}}</ref>
* The fastest recorded century break in tournament play was by [[Tony Drago]] at the [[1996 UK Championship (snooker)|1996 UK Championship]] – he took 3&nbsp;minutes 31&nbsp;seconds (211&nbsp;seconds) to score one hundred points.<ref name="Various Snooker Records"/> During the [[2022 Scottish Open (snooker)|2022 Scottish Open]], [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] came three seconds shy of Drago's record with a century break in 3 minutes 34 seconds (214 seconds).<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 November 2022 |title=Scottish Open: Ronnie O'Sullivan misses fastest TV century break by three seconds |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/63784265 |access-date=11 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Walker-Roberts |first=James |date=28 November 2022 |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan almost breaks record for fastest-ever snooker century in rapid Scottish Open win |url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/scottish-open/2022-2023/ronnie-o-sullivan-almost-breaks-record-for-fastest-ever-snooker-century-in-rapid-scottish-open-win_sto9249247/story.shtml |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=[[Eurosport]] |archive-date=30 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130084133/https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/scottish-open/2022-2023/ronnie-o-sullivan-almost-breaks-record-for-fastest-ever-snooker-century-in-rapid-scottish-open-win_sto9249247/story.shtml |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The youngest player to record a witnessed century break is [[Michael White (snooker player)|Michael White]], who scored his first century in March 2001 at the age of nine.<ref name="dailypost1">{{cite web|last=Welton |first=Blake |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/who-welsh-players-set-compete-8777351 |title=Who are the Welsh players set to compete at the Snooker World Grand Prix? |work=[[Daily Post (North Wales)|Daily Post]] |date=5 March 2015 |access-date=20 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/youngest-person-to-score-a-century-break-in-snooker|title=Youngest person to score a century break in snooker|access-date=1 May 2024|publisher=Guinness World Records}}</ref>

===Season===
*Hendry was the first player to reach 50 century breaks in a season, compiling 53 in the [[1994–95 snooker season|1994–95 season]].<ref name="Guardian (2011)">{{cite news |first=Clive |last=Everton |title=Mark Selby breaks Crucible century record and Stephen Hendry |date=24 April 2011 |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/apr/24/mark-selby-stephen-hendry-world-championship |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="Independent (2011)">{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Goulding |title=Snooker: Selby sets record to leave Hendry clinging on |date=25 April 2011 |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/snooker-selby-sets-record-to-leave-hendry-clinging-on-2274494.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427181820/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/snooker-selby-sets-record-to-leave-hendry-clinging-on-2274494.html |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref> He again exceeded 50 centuries in the [[1995–96 snooker season|1995–96 season]], with 51, and O'Sullivan came close with 48 in the [[2006–07 snooker season|2006–07 season]].<ref name="Telegraph (2008)">{{cite news |first=John |last=Dee |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan pegs back Stephen Hendry |date=1 May 2008 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2299156/Ronnie-OSullivan-pegs-back-Stephen-Hendry.html |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
*Hendry's record was broken in the [[2010–11 snooker season|2010–11 season]] by [[Mark Selby]] with 54 centuries,<ref name="Guardian (2011)"/><ref name="Various Snooker Records"/><ref name="Snooker.org (2011)">{{cite web |title=Betfred.com World Championship (2011) |work=Snooker.org |url=http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=28 |access-date=5 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816033208/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=28 |archive-date=16 August 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Snooker Scene Blog (2011)">{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Hendon |title=Wuxi Rivalry for World Cup Team-Mates |date=10 July 2011 |work=Snooker Scene Blog |url=http://snookerscene.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/wuxi-rivalry-for-world-cup-team-mates.html |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> and again by Selby with 55 century breaks in the [[2011–12 snooker season|2011–12 season]].<ref name="Times (2013)">{{cite news |first=Hector |last=Nunns |title=Judd Trump sets century breaks record in victory over Dominic Dale |date=24 April 2013 |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/judd-trump-sets-century-breaks-record-in-victory-over-dominic-dale-pmpjwcpqlfk |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="WS (2012)">{{cite news |title=Selby Takes First UK Crown |date=10 December 2012 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/selby-takes-first-uk-crown/ |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220232345/https://wst.tv/selby-takes-first-uk-crown/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The record was broken for a third successive season in [[2012–13 snooker season|2012–13]] when [[Judd Trump]] compiled 61 centuries.<ref name="Trump">{{cite web |title=Murphy 147 / Robertson Centuries Record |date=9 January 2014 |work=World Snooker |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3611925,00.html |archive-date=9 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109140018/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3611925%2C00.html |access-date=23 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*The first player to reach the "century of centuries" (100 century breaks) mark during a single season is Neil Robertson, who compiled his 100th century of the [[2013–14 snooker season|2013–14 season]] on 30&nbsp;April 2014 during his quarter-final match against Judd Trump at the [[2014 World Snooker Championship|2014 World Championship]].<ref name="BBC (2014)">{{cite web |title=Robertson's historic 100th century |date=30 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/snooker/27232320|access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> In total, Robertson compiled 103 century breaks throughout the season,<ref name="WS (2016-8-11)">{{cite news |title=Robertson Tops centuries Chart |date=11 August 2016 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/robertson-tops-centuries-chart/ |access-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220231733/https://wst.tv/robertson-tops-centuries-chart/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in doing so broke Trump's record from the previous season.<ref name="Trump" /> Trump matched the feat in the curtailed [[2019–20 snooker season|2019–20 season]], compiling 102 century breaks in total.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilson Beats Champion Trump|date=11 August 2020 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/wilson-beats-champion-trump/|access-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813214942/https://wst.tv/wilson-beats-champion-trump/ |archive-date=13 August 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
*Robertson's record was broken in the [[2024–25 snooker season|2024–25 season]] by [[Judd Trump]] with 107 centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-03 |title=Evergreen Williams knocks out Trump |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/may/03/Evergreen-Williams-Knocks-Out-Trump/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=World Snooker Tour |language=en}}</ref>

===Event===
* The most centuries made by a player in a single match during a professional tournament is seven and the record is shared by Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui and Judd Trump.
** Hendry set the record during the final of the [[1994 UK Championship (snooker)|1994 UK Championship]].<ref name="Various Snooker Records">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Various Snooker Records|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Records.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128045831/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Records.html |archive-date=28 January 2013 |publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> During this match, Hendry compiled six centuries in a span of eight frames.<ref name="Snooker.org (1994)">{{cite web |title=UK Championship (1994) |work=Snooker.org |url=http://www.snooker.org/TRN/uk_res.shtml#F |access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref> 
** Ding tied the record in his semi-final match at the [[2016 World Snooker Championship|2016 World Championship]]. This is also a record for a match at the [[Crucible Theatre]],<ref name="Ding (2016)" /> beating the previous record of six shared by Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan.<ref name="Sporting Life (2013)">{{cite news |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan takes the title |date=6 May 2013 |work=[[Sporting Life (British newspaper)|Sporting Life]] |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/article/2/8696455/ronnie-osullivan-wins-title |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509235353/http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/article/2/8696455/ronnie-osullivan-wins-title |archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
** Trump tied the record in the final at the [[2019 World Snooker Championship|2019 World Championship]].<ref name="WS (2019-5-6)">{{cite web |title=Trump Tops the World |date=6 May 2019 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/trump-tops-the-world/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220212246/https://wst.tv/trump-tops-the-world/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This equalled Ding's record at the Crucible Theatre and Hendry's record for a final. It also set a new record for a World Championship final at the Crucible, surpassing O'Sullivan's tally of six centuries during the final of the [[2013 World Snooker Championship|2013 World Championship]].<ref name="Independent (2013)">{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Goulding |title=Snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan defends world title against Barry Hawkins as if he'd never been away |date=7 May 2013 |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/snooker-ronnie-osullivan-defends-world-title-against-barry-hawkins-as-if-hed-never-been-away-8605268.html |access-date=6 May 2013}}</ref>
** Selby's six-century haul in a second round match at the [[2011 World Snooker Championship|2011 World Championship]] set the record for a best-of-25 match.<ref name="BBC (2011-04-24)">{{cite news |work=BBC Sport |title=World Snooker: Selby beats Hendry to reach last eight |date=25 April 2011 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/snooker/13181061.stm |access-date=24 April 2011}}</ref> 
** O'Sullivan holds the record for making the most centuries in a best-of-9 match, compiling five centuries (including a [[maximum break|147]]) to beat [[Ali Carter]] 5–2 at the [[2007 Northern Ireland Trophy]].<ref name="Various Snooker Records"/>
** [[Fergal O'Brien]] holds the record for most centuries in a best-of-11 match, compiling five centuries to beat [[Barry Hawkins]] 6–5 at the [[2016 UK Championship]].<ref name="WS (2016-11-27)">{{cite news |title=Five-Ton Fergal Floors Hawk |date=27 November 2016 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/five-ton-fergal-floors-hawk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220224414/https://wst.tv/five-ton-fergal-floors-hawk/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The record for combined number of century breaks in a single match by both players is eleven, achieved by Judd Trump (seven) and John Higgins (four) in the final of the [[2019 World Snooker Championship|2019 World Championship]].<ref name="WS (2019-5-6)" /> This broke the previous record of ten, achieved by [[Ding Junhui]] (seven) and [[Alan McManus]] (three) in their semi-final tie at the [[2016 World Snooker Championship|2016 World Championship]].<ref name="Ding (2016)">{{cite web |title=China's Ding Into First World Final |date=30 April 2016 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/chinas-ding-into-first-world-final/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220225655/https://wst.tv/chinas-ding-into-first-world-final/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The most century breaks made by a player in a ranking event is 18 by Ding during the [[2016 World Snooker Championship|2016 World Championship]], compiling three during qualifying and a further 15 at the Crucible Theatre during the main event.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Championship Qualifiers – Centuries |website=livescores.worldsnookerdata.com |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Centuries/CenturyBreaks/13869/world-championship-qualifiers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518061146/http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Centuries/CenturyBreaks/13869/world-championship-qualifiers |archive-date=18 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=World Championship – Centuries |website=livescores.worldsnookerdata.com  |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Centuries/CenturyBreaks/13868/world-championship |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517142855/http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Centuries/CenturyBreaks/13868/world-championship |archive-date=17 May 2016}}</ref> Hendry previously set a record of 16 at the [[2002 World Snooker Championship|2002 World Championship]], which remains a televised, Crucible and venue record.<ref name="Various Snooker Records"/> [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]] tied Hendry's records twenty years later at the [[2022 World Snooker Championship|2022 World Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump Beats Williams in Epic Semi-Final |date=30 April 2022 |website=World Snooker |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] |url=https://wst.tv/trump-beats-williams-in-epic-semi-final/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430234644/https://wst.tv/trump-beats-williams-in-epic-semi-final/ |archive-date=30 April 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The most century breaks made by a player in a tournament is 32, made by [[Jak Jones]] at the non{{nbh}}ranking [[2025 Championship League (invitational)|2025 Championship League]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ton-happy Trump wins Group |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/23/ton-happy-trump-wins-group/ |work=[[World Snooker Tour]] |date=23 January 2025 |access-date=24 January 2025 |archive-date=24 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124074354/https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/23/ton-happy-trump-wins-group/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* O'Sullivan has compiled more century breaks than any other player in the World Championship competition at the [[Crucible Theatre]]. He broke Hendry's record of 127 centuries at the [[2013 World Snooker Championship|2013 Championship]],<ref name="Sporting Life (2013)"/><ref name="BBC (2013-05-7)">{{cite web |work=BBC Sport |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan unsure over defending world snooker title |date=6 May 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/22429642 |access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref> extending his total to 200 at the [[2023 World Snooker Championship|2023 Championship]].<ref name="Sporting Life (2020)">{{cite news |title=Snooker results: Ronnie O'Sullivan dishes out 13-2 hiding against Hossein Vafaei at the Crucible |date=22 April 2023 |work=[[Sporting Life (British newspaper)|Sporting Life]] |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/snooker-results-ronnie-osullivan-dishes-out-13-2-hiding-against-hossein-vafaei/208924 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423134000/https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/snooker-results-ronnie-osullivan-dishes-out-13-2-hiding-against-hossein-vafaei/208924 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |access-date=23 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Higgins]] is the only other player besides Hendry and O'Sullivan to compile more than 100 centuries at the world championship in the Crucible era.<ref name="Sporting Life (2016)">{{cite news |title=Crucible centuries since 1977 |date=14 April 2016 |work=[[Sporting Life (British newspaper)|Sporting Life]] |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/article/663/10242797/world-championship-snooker-century-breaks-at-the-crucible |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430091347/http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/article/663/10242797/world-championship-snooker-century-breaks-at-the-crucible |archive-date=30 April 2016}}</ref>
* An aggregate Crucible record of 109 centuries was set at the [[2022 World Snooker Championship|2022 World Championship]], breaking the previous record of 108 in [[2021 World Snooker Championship|2021]]. The only other time the 100-century threshold has been breached was at the [[2019 World Snooker Championship|2019 world championship]], with 100.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crucible Centuries Record Beaten |date=2 May 2022 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] |url=https://wst.tv/crucible-centuries-record-equalled/ |access-date=2 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502205955/https://wst.tv/crucible-centuries-record-equalled/ |archive-date=2 May 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The most centuries made at a single event is the 177 made at the non{{nbh}}ranking [[2025 Championship League (invitational)|2025 Championship League]].<ref name="SO_records">{{cite web |title=Snooker World Records |url=https://www.snooker.org/plr/records.shtml |website=snooker.org |first=Hermund |last=Årdalen |date=11 February 2025 |access-date=12 February 2025 |archive-date=12 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212210719/https://www.snooker.org/plr/records.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Consecutive===
* The record for the most consecutive centuries in a match is shared by [[Kyren Wilson]] and [[Anthony Hamilton (snooker player)|Anthony Hamilton]] who compiled six between them at a qualifier for the [[2016 China Open (snooker)|China Open]] on 11&nbsp;February 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kyren Wilson & Anthony Hamilton make history with six straight tons |date=11 February 2016 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/35547919 |access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> The previous record of five centuries was jointly held by Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry at the final of the [[2003 British Open (snooker)|2003 British Open]], and by [[Stephen Maguire]] and Neil Robertson in a quarter-final at the [[2009 Masters (snooker)|2009 Masters]].<ref name="Various Snooker Records"/>
* Stephen Maguire made five consecutive centuries at the [[2004 British Open (snooker)|2004 British Open]], comprising the last three frames of his quarter-final and the first two frames of the semi-final.<ref name="Various Snooker Records"/>
* Eight players have made four consecutive centuries in a match: John Higgins in the final of the [[2005 Grand Prix (snooker)|2005 Grand Prix]], [[Shaun Murphy]] at the [[2007 Welsh Open (snooker)|2007 Welsh Open]],<ref name="Various Snooker Records"/> Neil Robertson at the [[2013 Ruhr Open]],<ref>{{cite web |work=World Snooker |title=Trump Storms Into Last 16 |date=5 October 2013 |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3482928,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008160527/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3482928,00.html |archive-date=8 October 2013}}</ref> [[Gary Wilson (snooker player)|Gary Wilson]] at the [[2019 UK Championship]],<ref>{{cite web |title=White Delight after Respot Drama |date=3 December 2019 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |url=https://wst.tv/white-delight-after-respot-drama/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220211707/https://wst.tv/white-delight-after-respot-drama/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Stephen Maguire in the first round of the [[2020 Tour Championship]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wst.tv/stunning-maguire-downs-robertson/ |title=Stunning Maguire Downs Robertson |date=20 June 2020 |newspaper=World Snooker |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622165057/https://wst.tv/stunning-maguire-downs-robertson/ |archive-date=22 June 2020 |url-status=dead |last1=Bisset |first1=Roddy }}</ref> [[Mark Allen (snooker player)|Mark Allen]] at the [[2020 European Masters (2020–21 season)|2020 European Masters]],<ref>{{cite web |title=European Masters 2020 – Ronnie O'Sullivan beaten by teenager Aaron Hill |work=Eurosport |date=25 September 2020 |access-date=26 September 2020 |url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/european-masters/2020-2021/european-masters-2020-mark-williams-ousted-by-peter-devlin-mark-allen-equals-centuries-record_sto7903105/story.shtml |archive-date=19 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219185604/https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/european-masters/2020-2021/european-masters-2020-mark-williams-ousted-by-peter-devlin-mark-allen-equals-centuries-record_sto7903105/story.shtml |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Lu Ning]] in the [[2020 UK Championship]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snookerhq.com/2020/11/30/ronnie-osullivan-shaun-murphy-lose-2020-uk-championship |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy Lose in 2020 UK Championship |first=Dsvid |last=Caulfield |date=30 November 2020}}</ref> and [[Jack Lisowski]] at the [[2022 UK Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |date=18 November 2022 |title=Four-Ton Lisowski Thumps Murphy |url=https://wst.tv/four-ton-lisowski-thumps-murphy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119011933/https://wst.tv/four-ton-lisowski-thumps-murphy/ |archive-date=19 November 2022 |website=wst.tv |publisher=[[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|WPBSA]]}}</ref> At the [[2022 European Masters (2021–22 season)|2022 European Masters]], Robertson became the first player to do the feat twice.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robertson narrowly misses snooker history |url=https://wst.tv/robertson-narrowly-misses-snooker-history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222220815/https://wst.tv/robertson-narrowly-misses-snooker-history/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2022 |date=23 February 2022 |website=World Snooker Tour}}</ref> At the [[2023 English Open (snooker)|2023 English Open]] Allen became the second player to perform the feat twice and also the second player, after Robertson in 2013, to achieve it in a best-of-7-frame match.<ref>{{cite web |title=Allen equals centuries record |url=https://wst.tv/allen-equals-centuries-record |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002152253/https://wst.tv/allen-equals-centuries-record/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 October 2023 |date=2 October 2023 |website=World Snooker Tour}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|century break}}

{{Snooker lists}}

[[Category:100 (number)]]
[[Category:Snooker terminology]]