Chang Bingyu collects huge jackpot bonus prize for maximum break at Crucible qualifiers

The Chinese youngster compiled the feat of snooker perfection during the ninth frame of his penultimate qualifying round match against 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

A blockbuster match for this stage of snooker’s blue riband event, Brecel took the opening frame before Chang racked up runs of 69, 129 and 100 to move 3-1 up at the mid-session interval.

Brecel then replied with a trio of frames of his own before 23-year-old Chang levelled up, and then finished the opening session in virtuoso fashion.

This is only the ninth 147 ever made in World Championship qualifying. Last year, Jackson Page famously crafted two in one match - an extraordinary feat that saw him scoop a £147,000 bonus, something that Chang will also cash in, too (more on that later).

It has been a sensational season for maximum breaks. This latest addition to the roll of honour is a record-extending 24th 147 of the term; the previous benchmark for the most maximums registered in a single professional snooker season was 15 from last season.

Chang was the player to break the existing record back in November during the UK Championship qualifiers at Wigan. And it’s because of that perfect frame in one of snooker’s other Triple Crown events why he is banking a six-figure bonus for his latest achievement.

In recent years, the World Snooker Tour has put up a special prize for any player who makes two maximum breaks across that season’s four biggest tournaments - the Saudi Arabia Masters, UK Championship, Masters, World Championship.

There is a £441,000 pot allocated to this each term, with three shares of £147,000. One of this season’s shares has already gone because Ronnie O’Sullivan - snooker’s greatest breakbuilder of all-time - created history in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters back in August with two maximum breaks within the same session.

And now two-thirds of the purse has been unlocked, with Chang’s magnificent contribution in South Yorkshire.

Recent World Open champion Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, and English youngster Liam Pullen - who both play each other in this penultimate round - are both on one 147 each for their respective feats in Jeddah and Wigan several months ago. But the pot is available to all other cueists if they can construct a pair of 147s in Sheffield before anyone else does.

As well as the £147k, Chang is also in line to pocket a £10,000 bonus on offer for a 147 at this year’s world qualifiers, and the £15,000 tournament highest break bonus which counts across both qualifying and the main draw. However, those final two prizes would be shared equally if anyone else makes a 147 in the competition.

A total of 241 official maximum 147 breaks have now been made in professional competition.

Chang and Brecel are set to return on Monday afternoon at the EIOS for the conclusion of their engrossing encounter.

Earlier this season, Chang wrote headlines when he produced a staggering display at the Welsh Open in defeating Shaun Murphy with a 100% pot success rate.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Championship qualifying rounds, visit here.