THE WELSH Open got off to a controversial start after snooker supremo Ronnie O’Sullivan confessed he turned down the chance of making a 147 break because the prize cash on offer was not big enough.

Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

O’Sullivan eased into the second round of the ranking event he won two years ago by thrashing Barry Pinches 4-1 but the events of the fifth and final frame got the snooker world talking.

The Rocket looked set for making another superb 147 in his career but stunned the Cardiff crowd when he opted to take the pink after potting his 14th red.

O’Sullivan then made a 146 to complete his first round victory.

The prize for a 147 break this week stands at £10,000 but after the match O’Sullivan told World Snooker’s website the prize was not enough to tempt him into a maximum attempt.

“I like to entertain the fans, it’s like a film – you want them to come back and watch the next one,” he said.

“There’s no point giving them the best ending they could ever have, let’s just leave them for a better ending next time. When the prize (for a 147) gets a bit higher then I’ll go for it.”

O’Sullivan, who won the Masters last month in his first TV tournament of the season, will face Tian Pengfei in the next round.