“100,000 percent a 147” – Luca Brecel believes a nine-darter is easier than a maximum break in snooker

At first glance, snooker and darts seem like two completely different worlds. Where snooker revolves around finesse on a large table with complex patterns, darts appears to be a straightforward precision sport on a board. Yet the similarities are greater than many think. Both disciplines demand extreme accuracy, nerves of steel, and sharp strategic insight. But the ultimate question remains: what is actually harder – a maximum 147 break in snooker or a nine-darter in darts?

That question was recently put to Belgian snooker player Luca Brecel, who, alongside his snooker career, is also a big darts enthusiast. His answer was strikingly emphatic: “100,000 percent a 147.” With that, he takes a clear position in a debate that has been running among sports fans for years.

Brecel, snooker world champion in 2023, stated in an interview with Sportnieuws.nl that his passion for darts runs deep. “Even bigger than snooker. I watch everything and I also play almost daily myself. So yes: a big passion,” he said. That makes his opinion all the more interesting, because he doesn’t speak as an outsider. On the contrary, he knows exactly what it takes to perform at a high level in both sports.

To properly understand the comparison, it’s important to examine both achievements. A 147 in snooker – the maximum break – means a player pots all fifteen reds, each followed by the black, and then all the colours in the correct order. In total, it involves 36 perfect shots in a row, where not only potting matters, but cue ball positioning is crucial. One small positional error can derail the entire attempt. The fastest maximum break ever in competition was made by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who in 1997 took exactly 5 minutes and 8 seconds to clear the table.

Opposite that stands the nine-darter in darts: the perfect leg in which a player checks out 501 in just nine darts. This requires consistently hitting trebles, usually treble 20, and a flawless checkout. It’s an explosive achievement where everything must come together perfectly in a short burst.

Brecel, who also regularly throws a few darts himself, has a clear view on it. “With the first nine darts my average is around 70 to 75, which is quite good for an amateur,” he says. Yet he realises better than anyone how big the step to absolute perfection is. “In darts you can be done in nine darts, but in snooker you have to stay error-free for much longer. That makes it mentally tougher.”

A key difference indeed lies in the duration and complexity of the feat. Where a darter needs nine perfect throws, a snooker player must execute a long sequence of decisions and technical actions without error. The variability of the table also plays a role: no situation is the same, making improvisation and forward thinking essential.

That said, a nine-darter is certainly not ‘easy’. On the contrary. At the highest level, under the pressure of a packed arena and millions of viewers, hitting multiple trebles in succession is a world-class performance. “The pressure on stage is enormous,” said Brecel. “But in snooker you have to withstand that pressure for much longer.”

Interestingly, nine-darters have become more common in recent years than maximum breaks in snooker. That’s partly due to the growth and professionalisation of darts, which has massively raised the overall standard. More players are posting higher averages, increasing the chance of a perfect leg.

Even so, the 147 break remains for many the ultimate test of complete mastery. It’s not only a matter of technique, but also of patience, planning, and mental resilience. Every ball is a new challenge, every position a new puzzle.

The conclusion? While both achievements are exceptional and represent the absolute elite level, the 147 break seems to demand just that bit more. More steps, more variables, and a longer stretch of perfection make it, according to experts – and according to Brecel – the tougher task.

But perhaps that’s exactly what makes this debate so compelling. Because whether you favour the elegance of snooker or the intensity of darts, one thing is certain: perfection is rare in both sports – and all the more impressive because of it.