In snooker, a century break (also century, sometimes called a ton) is a break of 100 points or more, compiled in one visit to the table. A century break requires potting at least 25 consecutive balls, and the ability to score centuries is regarded as a mark of the highest skill in snooker. Ronnie O'Sullivan has described a player's first century break as the "ultimate milestone for any snooker player".[1] Joe Davis made the first televised century break in 1962.
O'Sullivan holds the record for the most career centuries in professional competition, with over 1,200. Three players have reached the milestone of 1,000 career century breaks: O'Sullivan attained it at the 2019 Players Championship, followed by John Higgins at the 2024 English Open and Judd Trump at the 2024 British Open. Overall, 13 players have surpassed 500 career centuries in professional competition. Neil Robertson holds the record for the most century breaks in a single season, having ended the 2013–14 season with 103. He and Trump, who made 102 centuries in the 2019–20 season, are the only players to have achieved 100 or more century breaks in one season. The most centuries by a player in a professional match is seven, a record held jointly by Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui, and Trump. Tony Drago made the fastest recorded century in tournament play at the 1996 UK Championship, when he took 3 minutes and 31 seconds to score 100 points.