Maximum breaks have become more common but making one, particularly on television, is still a fine achievement.
There have now been 67 in professional competition. When you consider the many thousands of frames that have been played, this still isn't all that much.
John Spencer would have made the first televised 147 in the 1979 International were in not for the fact the TV cameramen were in a nearby McDonalds at the time enjoying a meal break.
(As it transpired, the pockets were not ratified to tournament templates in any case.)
Spencer was Steve Davis's opponent at the 1982 Classic when Davis made the first TV 147 (and still one of the best).
Cliff Thorburn made the first of - so far - eight maxiums at the Crucible in 1983.
Kirk Stevens completed one at the Wembley Masters in 1984.
James Wattana made a maximum at the 1992 British Open shortly after hearing his father had been shot in Thailand.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 147 in five minutes, 20 seconds at the 1997 World Championship remains the greatest exhibition of pure snooker skill I have ever seen.
There were eight maximums in the 1980s, 26 in the 1990s and 33 this decade with a year left to run.
Congratulations to Ding on a great personal moment.
After the events of yesterday it was also exactly what the tournament - and snooker itself - needed.
5 comments:
Congratulations to Ding, great break.
A hypothetical question, if Ding were to make another 147, then another player made one as well, would the prize money then be shared three ways (with Ding getting 2/3's), or would they get half each?
Ding would get two thirds of the prize in that situation
Youngest to make two?
It's a good job the 147 wasn't made on one of the outside tables else we wouldn't have seen it. I'm getting really fed up with missing so much of the action in this tournament.
if someone made a 147 and Ronnie got one too but his was quicker would he get the money for being fastest?
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