In a narrowly contested vote, Ronnie O’Sullivan has been crowned the WPBSA Players’ Player of the Month for August 2025, a testament to his stunning performance at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters held in Jeddah. O’Sullivan secured 40% of the votes, edging out tournament champion Neil Robertson, who garnered 36% .
A Display of Brilliance in Jeddah
Although he fell just short of the title, being narrowly defeated 10-9 by Robertson in a nail-biting final, Ronnie’s journey to the last match was far from ordinary .
- In the semi-final against Chris Wakelin, O’Sullivan produced one of the greatest snooker displays in recent memory: he compiled two maximum 147 breaks—becoming the second player ever to achieve this in a single match, and the first to do so within the same session .
- That performance helped end a seven-year wait for an official 147 break—his last was at the 2018 English Open—and turned heads across the sport .
- In addition to the maximums, O’Sullivan produced impressive total clearances of 142 and 134, further showcasing the sparkle and precision of his play .
His semifinal feat earned him a hefty £147,000 bonus for having produced two maximums across eligible tournaments this season, and also a substantial share of the maximum-break prize fund .
A Close Vote Among Elite Performers
Despite not claiming a tournament win, O’Sullivan’s extraordinary displays left a lasting impression on his peers. The WPBSA Players’ Player of the Month award, newly introduced for the 2025/26 season, reflects exactly that—it celebrates performance as judged by fellow professionals .
He follows in the footsteps of Marco Fu, who took the inaugural June award, and Stephen Maguire, who earned July’s accolade .
Reactions from the Rocket and the Board
O’Sullivan, known for his candid and often unfiltered remarks, expressed gratitude to the players who voted for him:
“Thank you to all who voted for me because, as players, we all know how much we give to the game.”
WPBSA Players Chairman Ken Doherty praised O’Sullivan’s achievements in Jeddah:
“Congratulations to Ronnie, who never ceases to amaze with his performances. What he did in Jeddah was simply incredible and he continues to raise the bar for the rest of us. It was a particularly difficult month to win the award with Neil, Kyren, and Guodong all winning ranking events, so it shows how highly the players think of Ronnie’s performance in the semi-final against Chris.”
Context: The 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters
The 2025 Saudi Arabia Masters, held from 8 to 16 August at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah, was the second ranking event of the 2025–26 season. It featured a staggering £2.302 million total prize fund, with the winner, Robertson, earning £500,000 .
The tournament produced 91 century breaks, with O’Sullivan contributing both his 16th and 17th career maximums (two of them), and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh also recording a 147 during the event .
Though O’Sullivan narrowly lost in the final after staging a stirring comeback from 7–2 down to lead 9–8, Robertson held his nerve to clinch the title 10–9 .
Conclusion
In a month packed with thrilling snooker action, Ronnie O’Sullivan stood out not merely for wins, but for moments of sheer genius. His performance, particularly the unprecedented double 147, captured the hearts—and votes—of fellow pros, earning him the well-deserved WPBSA Players’ Player of the Month for August.
The accolade underscores that in snooker, sometimes brilliance is measured not just in trophies, but in fleeting moments of perfection that leave both opponents and peers in awe.
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