Four-time world champion Higgins joined an illustrious list after achieving the feat in his second-round match against Kurt Maflin.
Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at previous Crucible maximums.1983: Cliff Thorburn
Canadian Thorburn claimed the honour of the maiden Crucible 147 – and the first to be televised – during his second-round meeting with Terry Griffiths. The 1980 world champion, who went on to lose the final to Steve Davis, pocketed £13,000.1992: Jimmy White
Sheffield had to wait a further nine years to witness another. Perennial runner-up White, en route to the fourth of his six unsuccessful finals, produced the only maximum of his career in the first round against Tony Drago.1995: Stephen Hendry
Hendry established himself as the undisputed King of the Crucible during the 1990s, winning seven titles during the decade. A World Championship 147 break proved elusive until he did so against rival White in the 1995 semi-finals.1997: Ronnie O’Sullivan
1983 - Cliff Thorburn1992 - Jimmy White1995 - Stephen Hendry1997 - Ronnie O'Sullivan2003 - Ronnie O'Sullivan2005 - Mark Williams2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan2008 - Ali Carter2009 - Stephen Hendry2012 - Stephen Hendry2020 - John Higgins
Requiring just five minutes and eight seconds, O’Sullivan’s maiden Crucible maximum remains the quickest. He averaged around eight seconds per shot during a sensational effort against Mick Price, securing £147,000 in prize money.2003: Ronnie O’Sullivan
Six years later, O’Sullivan became the first man to make two Crucible 147s, albeit in bittersweet fashion. After making history in his first-round meeting with Marco Fu, he was swiftly brought back down to earth as he crashed out 10-6.2005: Mark Williams
Three-time champion Williams added his name to the Crucible history books during a first-round meeting with Robert Milkins. He remains the only Welshman on the list after taking around nine minutes to clear the table.2008: Ronnie O’Sullivan
Williams was on the receiving end three years later as eventual winner O’Sullivan came back for more. ‘The Rocket’, working towards the third of his five world titles, sealed a 13-7 win with the maximum, which he later described as the best of his career.2008: Ali Carter
Just one day after O’Sullivan’s efforts, Carter repeated the feat. Alongside White, two-time runner-up Carter is the only player to have managed a maximum and never won the title. He did so in his quarter-final win over Peter Ebdon, before losing the final 18-8 to O’Sullivan.2009: Stephen Hendry
Hendry moved 5-2 ahead in his quarter-final with Shaun Murphy after his second Crucible maximum. The Scot hailed a “tremendous feeling” during the interval but the joy was cut short by an eventual 13-11 loss.2012: Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry, right, marked his final World Championship appearance with a third Crucible 147 (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)
One of snooker’s all-time greats, Hendry’s Crucible career ended in style. His third Sheffield maximum, which emulated O’Sullivan’s achievement, came on the opening day of the tournament against Stuart Bingham. Stephen Maguire ended Hendry’s final World Championship appearance in the last eight.
