It had been seven agonising years since Ronnie O'Sullivan last recorded a maximum break.

Yet in the space of just two hours, 'The Rocket' not only ended that streak but fired in a further 147 break.

O'Sullivan can finally breathe a sigh of relief having made a 147 break again

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O'Sullivan can finally breathe a sigh of relief having made a 147 break again Credit: VGC via Getty

It was a night to remember for the snooker icon as he beat Chris Wakelin 6-3 to progress to the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.

O'Sullivan was in no mood to mess around from the very first frame in Jeddah as he immediately made the first of his two maximum breaks.

By doing so, it made O'Sullivan the oldest player to make a 147 break at the age of 49 years and 253 days.

It also marked O'Sullivan's first maximum in a competitive match since 2018 English Open.

And he was by no means done, as he potted impressive breaks of 142 and 70 to take a 3-1 lead going into the mid-session interval.

Wakelin managed to wrestle back control as he levelled the contest following the pause.

But it only served to jolt O'Sullivan back to life in the most emphatic way possible.

That would be by recording his second 147 break of the evening in Jeddah.

It meant 'The Rocket' had now become just the second player in snooker history to slot two maximums in the one contest, with Jackson Page accomplishing the feat last April.

Speaking on TNT Sports, snooker pro Steven Hallworth was effusive in his praise of 'The Rocket'.

'The Rocket' was in imperious form against Wakelin in Saudi Arabia

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'The Rocket' was in imperious form against Wakelin in Saudi Arabia Credit: VCG via Getty

"He is a global language, isn't he, Ronnie O'Sullivan," Hallworth said.

"You say the name and he is snooker. This is why we love him. What a player.

"If there was ever a question as to what the game means to 'The Rocket' still, he has just answered it there.

"What a moment for the crowd as well. There are probably people here... that may be the first frame of snooker they've ever seen.

"It's not always that easy, guys. It's just this man makes it look ridiculously easy."

O'Sullivan is now one win away from claiming the �500,000 prize awarded to the victor of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.

The 49-year-old is now guaranteed to win at least �200,000

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The 49-year-old is now guaranteed to win at least �200,000 Credit: VCG via Getty

But to take home the six-figure prize, he must overcome Neil Robertson in the final.

The Australian star booked his spot in the contest via a 6-3 victory over Elliot Slessor.

O'Sullivan and Robertson will face off in the final on August 16.