Snooker
Best Break-Builders in Snooker History: Legends Ranked by Skill
As a start, break-building is more than just simply ensuring the colours are grouped together on the table, it is an ability which defines the greats of the sport. The precision and control required to achieve this is seen in the fact that only the very elite among players are able to achieve this time and again. Here is a look at how we rank the very best break-builders in snooker history, consulting statistics, SB Scores and expert recognition.
Stephen Hendry /Getty Images
Methodology
Our ranking looks at various data-driven aspects to find a quantitively accurate metric to achieve our ranking.
Industry Recognition: We consider historical significance, influence on the game, and acknowledgments from various trustworthy sources. This includes notable breaks, tactical intelligence and era-adjusted performance.
SB Score (Stats-Based): A normalized score derived from metrics like total centuries & 147s, tournament wins, frame impact, positional play and high-pressure recovery. For normalisation, Ronnie O’Sullivan is set at 1.0.
SB Market Index: A composite score scaled on a 1-5 scale combining 70% Industry Recognition + 30% SB Score, blending objective performance stats with legacy, influence and recognition in the sport.
SB Market Index – Best Break-Builders in Snooker History
| Rank | Player | Turned Pro | Centuries | 147 Max | Notable Breaks | Industry Sources |
| 1 | Ronnie O’Sullivan | 1992 | 1,045 | 15 | 1,000th century in final frame (2019 Players Championship) | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 2 | Stephen Hendry | 1985 | 775 | 11 | 147 vs O’Sullivan (1997 Charity Challenge) | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 3 | Judd Trump | 2005 | 704 | 4 | 1,000 career centuries (2024 British Open) | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 4 | Neil Robertson | 1998 | 706 | 4 | First to 100 centuries in a season (2013/14) | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 5 | John Higgins | 1992 | 790 | 9 | Tactical and efficient break-building | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 6 | Joe Davis | 1926 | – (unratified) | – | Pioneering positional play; first to compile 100+ break on record | RonnieO147.com |
| 7 | Steve Davis | 1978 | 338 | 1 | First televised 147 (1982 Lada Classic); tactical innovator | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 8 | Jimmy White | 1980 | 319 | 1 | Fast, flair-driven break-building in 1980s majors | RonnieO147.com |
| 9 | Ding Junhui | 2003 | 532 | 6 | Chinese Open triumphs with exceptional cue ball control | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
| 10 | Marco Fu | 1998 | 501 | 4 | First live-streamed 147 (2000 Scottish Masters) | CueTracker, RonnieO147.com |
SB Score
| Final Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Rank | SB Market Index (1–5) | Comment |
| 1 | Ronnie O’Sullivan | 1.000 | 1 | 4.9 | Benchmark for cue-ball control and centuries; the GOAT. |
| 2 | Stephen Hendry | 0.940 | 2 | 4.7 | Defined modern attacking snooker through 1990s dominance. |
| 3 | John Higgins | 0.935 | 5 | 4.5 | Tactical master and break-building technician. |
| 4 | Neil Robertson | 0.925 | 4 | 4.4 | First to hit 100 centuries in a season; precision player. |
| 5 | Judd Trump | 0.920 | 3 | 4.3 | Modern flair and power break-builder; record season centuries. |
| 6 | Ding Junhui | 0.890 | 9 | 4.0 | Most prolific Asian player; silky cue action and control. |
| 7 | Marco Fu | 0.885 | 10 | 3.9 | Technical break-builder; noted for calm positional play. |
| 8 | Joe Davis | 0.880 | 6 | 3.8 | Invented modern break-building concept; era pioneer. |
| 9 | Steve Davis | 0.870 | 7 | 3.7 | Brought scientific precision and first televised 147. |
| 10 | Jimmy White | 0.860 | 8 | 3.6 | Natural flair and speed; the people’s champion. |
SB Market Index (Final Ranking)
| Player | Centuries | 147 Max | SB Score |
| Ronnie O’Sullivan | 1,045 | 15 | 1.000 |
| Stephen Hendry | 775 | 11 | 0.940 |
| John Higgins | 790 | 9 | 0.935 |
| Neil Robertson | 706 | 4 | 0.925 |
| Judd Trump | 704 | 4 | 0.920 |
| Ding Junhui | 532 | 6 | 0.890 |
| Marco Fu | 501 | 4 | 0.885 |
| Joe Davis | – | – | 0.880 |
| Steve Davis | 338 | 1 | 0.870 |
| Jimmy White | 319 | 1 | 0.860 |
Player Profiles and Legacy
Ronnie O’Sullivan – Master Break-Builder
He boasts an incredible amount of data in the snooker environment. With a little over 100 centuries, and 15 maximums, his break-building ability is simply unmatched. His control and precision are unlike anything you have seen and given that he has dominated over three decades, it shouldn’t come as much of surprise to see him ranked among the very best in the sport.
Stephen Hendry – The Architect of Modern Scoring
Hendry is the man praised for revolutionizing snooker in the late 90s. His aggressive gameplay and fearless attacking approach helped usher in a new age for break-building and progressive play.
John Higgins
The snooker artist. His tactical ability, alongside his patience and precision largely saw him earn various World Titles and around 800 centuries through his career
Neil Robertson – Precision and Consistency
His 103 centuries during the 2013/14 season remains a landmark. A calm and clinical player, he is arguably one of the very best break-builders on the snooker circuit.
Judd Trump – The Modern Marvel
He was often credited with managing to bring the aggression of Hendry together with the finesse of O’Sullivan. Reaching 1000 career centuries in 2024, he is without question the face of ultimate attack.
Ding Junhui – Asia’s Cue-Ball Maestro
The artistry with which he was able to play made things beautiful. Six maximums and over 500 centuries surely cement his name as the greatest snooker player to ever come out of China.
Marco Fu – Technical Perfectionist
His smooth style, calm approach and clinical finish see adjectives like “calm” and “composed” continue to follow him throughout his career. His positional play was largely second to none and so he is another name worthy of this list.
Joe Davis – The Founding Father
Early on in the 1930s, players like Davis were responsible for all of the groundwork around break-building. His control and ability to excellently map-out the snooker table was lightyears ahead of any snooker we would later see broadcasted on television.
Steve Davis – The Strategist
Steve Davis is largely regarded as the perfectionist of the 80s era. A slow and clinical player who had the first televised 147 and six World Titles to back it up, he is a player worth noting in the pages of history.
Jimmy White – The Entertainer
Seen as the entertainer on the snooker circuit, White would often approach his game with incredible attacking flair and a natural talent which was attractive to almost every viewer. Granted, he was never a world champion, but he quickly became one of the most loved characters in the sport.
Conclusion
You simply cannot escape the reality that break-building is part of the heartbeat in snooker. A combination of artistry and nerve – with possibly a hint of mathematics – there are names throughout history who have seen the game evolve and grow.
The list of legends are inexhaustible, from the likes of Davis through to O’Sullivan and even to Hendry or Trump, they have all left a unique mark on the sport and the intricacy that remains break-building.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.