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Mark Allen celebrates his maximum break. Alamy Stock Photo

Antrim's Mark Allen makes maximum 147 break at World Snooker Championship

It’s the 15th maximum break at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

MARK ALLEN RECOVERED from a nightmare start to the second session of his second-round match against Chris Wakelin by completing the 15th maximum break at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Allen receives a £40,000 bonus in prize money as a result but faces an uphill battle to stay in the tournament as he trails Wakelin 12-4. 

The Antrim star had failed to pot a ball in the three previous frames as qualifier Wakelin proceeded to turn a 6-2 overnight advantage into a 10-2 lead.

But Allen made his intentions clear in the first frame after the mid-session interval, targeting a long black and riding his luck on the yellow to wrap up his first 147 at the famous venue.

Allen punched the air before even sinking the black and was warmly congratulated by Wakelin, who is now just one frame away from the quarter-finals. 

A remarkable session had started in anguish for Allen, who missed a simple yellow off its spot in the first frame of the day to gift Wakelin a 7-2 lead.

The 33-year-old from Rugby then proceeded to play faultless snooker as he reeled off the next three frames without Allen scoring a point, including three remarkable pots with the white tight on the bottom cushion.

Wakelin potted a yellow to the middle in the 12th frame that seven-time champion Stephen Hendry, commentating on the BBC, called “one of the best shots I’ve ever seen”.

Co-commentator Steve Davis hailed an “astonishing performance” by Wakelin, adding: “There have been some fantastic shots played over the years at the Crucible, but that’s up there in the top 10 for me.”

With reporting by Gavin Cooney

Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.

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    Mute George Bowling
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:24 PM

    They only give 40k for a 147 now? It was a 147k prize plus the top break prize over 20 years ago for a 147 in the worlds.

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    Mute Dixie
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:41 PM

    @George Bowling: that’s because they happen much more regularly nowadays the same with 9 darters they happen every week now

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    Mute John Fagan
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:43 PM

    @George Bowling: A 75 year old man in the crowd won €25’000 after his name was pulled out in the draw and he will get another €25’000 if someone else gets a maximum.

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    Mute George Bowling
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:47 PM

    @Dixie: they’re a bit more frequent sure, but afaik there have never been more than 2 in any single crucible year. And back when they did give 147k I’m pretty sure if two or more players hit it in one tournament they had to split the prize between them. Just seems mad to reduce the prize, and by so much. Even if they kept it at 147k for optics all these years the prize would’ve fallen by about 50% in real terms due to inflation.

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    Mute p gert
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    Apr 25th 2025, 7:02 PM

    @George Bowling: Sure Hendry said he was going to the jacks earlier and 2 ’147s’ fell out of his pocket.

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Apr 25th 2025, 3:39 PM

    Class. Well done Mark.

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:38 PM

    @Andrew Kenny: he is no ronnie that’s for sure.

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    CP
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    Mute CP
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    Apr 25th 2025, 6:39 PM

    @Basildon Joe: No, he is Mark sure, not Ronnie

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:29 PM

    I did a 121 break once. I’d love to get a 147. Serious skill..

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    Mute Philip Gallagher
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:27 PM

    Jackson Page hit twi 147s in the same match this year in the qualifiers. Qualifiers count as the tournament. He got a 147k bonus. If they get two in any of the 3 majors (UK, Masters, World) they get 147k.
    Well done Mark Allen

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    Mute Happy Harry
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    Apr 25th 2025, 11:17 PM

    I done a 147. Unfortunately it was on a golf course.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Apr 25th 2025, 7:52 PM

    First man to get a 147 in all 3 triple crown events. Great achievement considering the players who haven’t done it.

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    Mute Quinny
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:28 PM

    Well done Mark , I’m glad that you got well beaten.

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    Mute Paul Cullen
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    Apr 25th 2025, 11:19 PM

    I was on a for a 147 last week, but I missed the second red hahaha

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