Rocket in trouble despite max break

Ronnie O’Sullivan compiled a historic maximum break in Sheffield tonight but his Embassy World Championship title hopes hang in the balance.

O’Sullivan became the first player to notch two 147 breaks at the Crucible to earn himself a bumper pay day of £169,000 (€250,000).

The Rocket’s sixth maximum of his career came in the seventh frame of his first-round match against Hong Kong’s Marco Fu.

It took him only six minutes 30 seconds and John Higgins and Ian McCulloch - playing on the adjoining table – both halted their opening match at a crucial stage to offer their congratulations.

Higgins eventually came through a testing first match of his own to beat Lancastrian McCulloch.

But the night belonged to O’Sullivan even though his record-breaking century failed to inspire him to end the session in front of his Hong Kong-born rival.

Asian ace Fu, who had to qualify for the Crucible, was inscrutable as he calmly took the remaining two frames to claim a 6-3 lead after the pandemonium had died down.

O’Sullivan refused to discuss his brilliant break after the session and disappeared into the night with his coach and mentor Derek Hill.

And the world number one and world title favourite as a lot of work to do tomorrow to stay in the championship.

Fu has already beaten the Essex professional this season – in the Regal Welsh Open – and there is no pressure on him to repeat the trick.

However, there is a massive burden on O’Sullivan to avoid being on the end of the biggest shock of the championship so far.

To clinch a last-16 meeting against Alan McManus or Nigel Bond – the duo waiting in the wings to complete their marathon match – he needs seven of the remaining 10 frames.

O’Sullivan was never in front during an entertaining session that also contained a century from 25-year-old Fu, now on the verge of his first-ever Crucible victory.

O’Sullivan trailed 1-0 and 2-1 but made breaks of 70 and 53 to level at 2-2.

After the interval Fu won a remarkable un-O’Sullivan-like frame that lasted 44 minutes. The frame aggregate was 155 points despite Fu making the top break of just 23.

Then came Fu’s 109 before O’Sullivan’s moment of glory.

He was well placed to level at 4-4 but from 50-0 in front he allowed Fu to snatch the frame. Fu finished on a high with another frame success as O’Sullivan struggled to maintain his high standards.

“We’ve been here preparing since Saturday and that’s what you prepare for,” said Hill.

“Ronnie cued as smooth as silk and took the balls so well.

“It never looked in doubt. Once the first red goes in he is always looking for a maximum .

“The thought of getting a max gets his juices flowing. He’s not looking to make the frame safe, he’s looking to make the max.”

World number four Higgins came through a testing match 10-7 after British Open runner-up McCulloch missed a green to close the gap to 9-8.