Ding Junhui stuns Ronnie O’Sullivan with just fourth 147 break in The Masters history
DING JUNHUI has celebrated his second-ever Masters 147 – and he could now bank a bonus £147,000.
The Chinese cueist, 36, thrillingly cleared up in the seventh frame of his first-round loss to Ronnie O’Sullivan at Ally Pally.
It is the fourth time a 147 has been witnessed at the Masters but none of them have been achieved by British players.
The first was by white-suited Canadian Kirk Stevens versus Jimmy White in January 1984.
Ding, the best player to emerge from the Asian snooker halls, enjoyed one in 2007 against Anthony Hamilton at the age of 19.
And then Marco Fu of Hong Kong got in on the act against Stuart Bingham in 2015.
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Ding, the world No.11, punched the air when he sunk the final black and O’Sullivan rose from his chair and fist-bumped him to show his congratulations.
It is the seventh time at professional level that Ding has had a perfect frame.
Should he produce a 147 at some point during the World Snooker Championship, then he will receive a bonus of £147,000.
That would be shared with anyone else who compiles two maximums at the Triple Crown tournaments in the 2023-24 season.
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More than two thousand fans – the biggest crowd for a UK snooker event – rose to their feet and gave Ding a standing ovation.
World No.11 Ding, who ended up losing 6-3 to the Rocket, left with a £15,000 first-round cheque and will secure another £15,000 for the highest-break prize if nobody else matches his feat throughout the eight-day tournament.
He said: “I saw the balls open and I thought I had a chance. It is not bad to try one.
“I will try to make one at the Crucible. That would be special. The better thing is to do the 147 and win the match.
“The crowd love to watch centuries and 147 and an attacking game. You need to show fun to snooker fans.”
World No.1 O'Sullivan, who played Ding in a New Year’s Day exhibition in the Himalayas, said: “An unbelievable 147 from Ding. I knew he’d make it after the first and second reds.
“He wasn’t out of position once. His cue-ball control is better than anyone ever. I’m envious of that game.”
BBC TV commentator John Virgo, who has seen it all throughout his career with a mic, said: “And now this black for his second-ever maximum at the Masters.
“GET IN YOU BEAUTY! Absolutely fantastic. Superb from Ding Junhui. At 4-0 down, he looked down and out. Game on.”
Ken Doherty, the 1997 world snooker champion, said: “Absolutely superb from start to finish. He got the plant and then kept going.
“The cue-ball control was exemplary. A perfect break. As befits such a great crowd and tournament and place for snooker. An absolutely brilliant moment.”
Fans on social media were also left in awe of Ding's feat.
One wrote: "Just a brilliant break and good respect from Ronnie.";
While a second gushed: "Some break that nerves of steel on the yellow."
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A third swooned: "What a guy! What a player!"
And another added: "Great to see and brilliant cue ball control."
