Paddy Power strikes again: £61k for Ronnie O’Sullivan if he hits a 147 at Welsh Open

UK professional snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan could have completed a 147 break in the last frame against Barry Pinches at the Welsh Open. O’Sullivan, known as ‘The Rocket’, turned down his chance for a 147, as he felt that £10,000 wasn’t enough to complete the maximum break.

The prize money for a 147 is determined on a rollover basis. With every tournament, £5,000 are added to the pot.

''I knew it was 10 grand and I just thought that's a bit too cheap really," O'Sullivan remarked after the game. Paddy Power saw this controversy as its chance to boost its brand, and swiftly offered O’Sullivan £61,000 if he completed a maximum in the Welsh Open.

Published on Paddy Power’s Twitter account, for maximum brand promotion, O’Sullivan tweeted back: “That’s more like it! Tell you what, if I manage to pull off a 147, I will give £11k of this to a charity of your choice.”

While some commentators found Paddy Power’s offer inappropriate, the majority of snooker fans felt it made the game more interesting.

"It's like going into a Mercedes garage and when they say that you can have the car for £3,000, you reply, 'No way, that's too cheap. I'm not buying it for that'. Certain things have value, and a 147 is a special moment,” O’Sullivan further explained.

If anyone came out as a winner, it’s Paddy Power, whose tweet has triggered increased interest in the game, and subsequently greater revenue for the bookmakers.