Joe O’Connor after missing a 147. (Image: @WST)
The commentary team were left as devastated as snooker player Joe O’Connor himself after he agonisingly missed out on a 147 in his Championship League match. Leading Tom Ford 1-0, the 29-year-old had comfortably secured the second frame as he honed in on a maximum.
But after reaching the colours and sinking the blue, he was left facing a difficult situation with the pink ball off its spot at the top end of the table.
O’Connor duly potted it into the top left-hand corner, screwing the white ball back off two cushions as he tried to get position on the black.
The tricky cut shot promoted memories of a famous maximum in 1995, with the lead commentator saying: “This is a bit like Stephen Hendry’s against Jimmy White at the Crucible.”
However, O’Connor couldn’t quite replicate the legendary Scot. His effort bounced out of the jaws of the pocket, prompting disappointment for the player, fans and pundits.
“Oh no, no,” the lead WST commentator cried. “Joe O’Connor makes a 140 and then misses the black. It’s happened to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh on more than one occasion.”
OH NO JOE! ??????
— WST (@WeAreWST)
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The Thai player’s luck has been infamously savage when it comes to making maximums. Last September, he became the first player in snooker history to miss out on a 147 break by missing the final black for a third time.
At least O’Connor could take solace in the fact he went on to win the match 3-1. And rather than be flustered at missing out on the feat, he then proceeded to see off Noppon Saengkham 3-0.
And the world No.37 at least has one previous 147 to his name. In February 2024, he compiled his first maximum break, the 200th official maximum in competitive , during a win against Elliot Slessor in his home town of Leicester.
O’Connor is playing in the second stage of the Championship League after topping his group earlier this month. He finished ahead of compatriots Oliver Lines and Harvey Chandler, as well as Northern Ireland’s Aaron Hill.
He has two more Championship League matches to go on Wednesday. He faces Welshman Jak Jones before rounding off his group stage by playing David Gilbert.