During the qualifying stages of the 2004 UK Championship, he was the first player to complete a break of over 147 in a professional match, playing against Leo Fernandez. After being awarded a free ball Burnett took the brown as an extra red, then a brown, then added 15 reds and 12 blacks, two pinks and a blue. He then potted the colours to complete a 148 break. He afterwards commented "I didn't really know how to react afterwards. At first I thought it was no big deal, but then I realised I'd made history."